This NASA solar energy guide explains the inexpensive economical benefits of solar heating systems for homes.
This detailed NASA solar energy report describes a low-cost solar home heating system to supplement the homeowner’s present warm-air heating system. This report gives a background on solar heating, NASA’s experience with demonstrating the system, and information for the homeowner who wishes to construct such a system.
The cost of fuel oil for residential heating has more than doubled in the past several years. Further cost increases in the future are likely as the limited supplies are consumed and fuels become less available. This situation has forced a search for other sources for supplying our energy at reasonable costs. One of the most promising sources is solar energy.
Solar energy itself is free but not the equipment that collects, stores, and distributes it to the home. It is not possible at the present time to go to local heating contractors and select a solar heating system from stock. If the homeowner has to hire a contractor to order and install the required components, the system would probably not be cost effective at this time. However, if the homeowner is moderately skilled in the use of hand tools and can provide the time for ordering and installing the required components, a solar heating might be considered.
This 60-page guide highlights:
- What types of solar collectors are available?
- What are the variations in solar energy?
- What was NASA’s system performance analysis related to solar home energy heating?
- How I can install a homeowner’s system?
- What is the cost analysis for solar heating?
- What can my roof handle?
- What are water treatment options?
In a world with dramatically increasing energy costs, it is important that a homeowner be familiar with all the options at his/her disposable, including those that would be best suited for an emergency or survivalist situation. This guide is designed to inform and help homeowners make individual decisions.
