How to Heat Buildings With Solar Energy

Instructions

• 1

  Determine if your house receives enough sunlight. Some locations offer more powerful sunlight and more hours of sunlight, with the southern United States and the desert in the West receiving more sunlight than the North. The position of the home and the presence of trees or other natural features can affect how much solar energy can be harnessed. Sun charts and sun gauges can be found online or at your local university.

• 2

  Decide which type of solar energy system you want -- either active or passive. Passive solar energy systems simply collect the sun's energy, while active systems move that energy with fans or other automated parts. An example of a passive system would be the installation of floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side of the house, with the windows acting like a giant magnifying glass that draws the heat into the house. An active system would be the installation of a greenhouse-like room that collects heat from the sun, along with a fan system with pipes that bring that heat to different areas of the home.

• 3

  Evaluate what changes will be needed in your home and whether the construction is cost-effective. Harnessing the sun's energy and bringing it into your home could require extensive remodeling or could be a simple weekend project. How much time and money you want to put into the project should be partly determined by the amount of money you would save on energy bills. Use an online solar calculator or consult a solar expert to determine your savings.