ABOUT SOLAR WATER HEATING

The solar collector is mounted on or near your home facing south. As the sunlight passes through the collector’s plastic or glass "glazing," it strikes a metal or rubber absorbing material. This material converts the sunlight into long wave heat, and the glazing prevents the heat from escaping, like a greenhouse. The temperature inside a glazed solar collector on your roof can reach 300°F when there is no heat transfer fluid flowing through it.

Water passed through these heating elements can be used for under floor heating, to produce domestic hot water, or to power air conditioning for cooling. The hot water can also be used for gardening, snow melting, and pool heating.

Ths is in contrast to photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. These may be installed on premises which are not connected to the electricity grid, or they may be installed on properties which are connected to the electricity grid.

SPONSORED LINKS

LEADING USA SOLAR HEATING MANUFACTURERS

The following leading solar heating system manufacturers have comprehensive websites, with information on all aspects of solar heating, including online catalogs, designs, specifications and materials for solar heating, and care and maintenance of solar heating systems.

Solar Roofs: Solar Heating. Solar Roofs, based in Carmichael, California, is a supplier of residential and commercial solar water heating systems. It offers four types of residential solar water heating system: Flat-Plate Collectors, Thermosyphon Systems, ICS or Batch Systems, and Evacuated-tube Solar Collectors. Flate Plate Collectors may be glazed or unglazed. The unglazed type is typically used for pool heating. Evacuated-tube Solar Collectors contain parallel rows of transparent glass tubes; each contains a glass outer tube and a metal absorber tube attached to a fin.

Radiantec: Solar Heating. Radiantec, founded in 1979 and based in Lyndonville, Vermont, is a leading supplier of radiant heating systems. Its solar heating designs were developed the support of grants from the US Department of Energy and the National Bureau of Standards. Radiantec solar heating systems use under floor radiant heat, and produce hot water as well as space heating. They can also provide nergy for gardening, snow melting and pool heating. Radiantec solar heating systems are provided as complete installation packages that can be fitted by a competent do it yourselfer.

Solar Panels Plus: Solar Heating. Solar Panels Plus, based in Chesapeake, Virginia, is a leading distributor of solar energy products. Its product range includes solar thermal collectors using evacuated tube technology, which produce hot water for residential and commercial users. Solar Panels Plus supplies systems which supply solar thermal energy to power air conditioning. It also distributed solar photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity from sunlight. All its solar thermal systems are certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation, and are eligible for Federal and State tax credits.

CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT DIRECTORIES

We recommend the following professional construction directories, which include standard specifications, manufacturers' specs, and CAD details: 4Specs at www.4specs.com, Arcat at www.arcat.com, Arcom at www.arcomnet.com, Reed at www.reedfirstsource.com, Sweets at www.sweets.construction.com.

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Heating Product Guides: Attic Insulation, Blow In Insulation, Cellulose Insulation, Chimney Caps, Chimney Liners, Coal Stoves, Electric Fireplaces, Fiber Glass Insulation, Fireplace Doors, Fireplaces, Foam Insulation, Gas Fireplaces, Gas Stoves, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Geothermal Heating, Home Wind Power, Mineral Wool Insulation, Pellet Stoves, Photovoltaic Panels, Radiant Floor Heating, Radiator Covers, Radiators, Solar Water Heaters, Stone Fireplaces, Sump Pumps, Tankless Water Heaters, Vertical Wind Turbines, Water Heaters, Water Pumps, Well Pumps, Wind Turbines, Wood Stoves.

Other recommended portals: Archbone, Building Design, Homeone Australia, Lighting Directory, Sapling, Stone Network.

Publisher: Abacus Construction Index is a professionally edited directory of recommended construction websites, published by Extonet Ltd. It is financed only by Google advertising; no payment is received from included websites.