Passive Solar Heating Panel: Practical Way of Warming Your Home

Passive solar heating panel is not a new concept; if fact, this device has been with us for years. However, this is a much cheaper version of the more expensive conventional sun panels. Still, it also effectively gathers the sun’s rays and uses it for the heating of your home. And as the years go by, the technology on solar heating systems has become more and more sophisticated. But what is passive solar energy, in the first place?

It is obtained by the use of unique yet highly efficient alternative devices such as sun powered water heaters, which delivered properly heated water into our homes - thanks to the energy coming from the rays of the sun.



With the use such solar heating gadgets, you can very well consider your abode to be a genuine passive sun-run home. But how does this happen, actually? First of all, a typical residence should have its room areas facing the southern direction. The rooms within must have thick walls and ceilings that will act as effective insulators. Having the desired thickness in walls and ceilings will ensure that the residence is kept warm and cozy during the months of winter season and cool at summer months. The windows of such homes must have double panes which also serve to provide better insulation. Most of the glass windows and doors are facing the southern direction, again to optimize all the benefits from the sun.

Benefits and Downside of passive solar heating panel

Such a system is considered to be effective for the home as soon as the radiation that comes from the sun is gathered inside the house and efficiently stored in specific areas such as special rooms. This energy is likewise gathered and kept in thermal media home areas, like mason walls and concrete floors that are finished in ceramic materials. The heat from the sun that’s stored on these home parts will be released in a slow manner in order to keep the place warm.

It can be said that such solar heat panels has also its share of limitations. For example, some residential lots and locations might not work well for such gadgets; sun-powered abodes cannot be built because of some factors such as tall trees, high wall and barriers. And although, most homes can take advantage of such alternative heating, it is best to discuss with your home builder on how you can build your home with vital features and qualities that will make it sun-friendly, allowing such devices to take advantage of solar benefits to the fullest. Likewise, if you want your passive solar homes to be really effective in the long term, it usually requires specialized back up solar heating system for extended sun-less days, winter or any severe weather condition.

Thanks for my source of photo: Tony Hall

Solar Screens: Provides Great Benefits for You and Your Home

Like any other other sun-powered gadgets and devices, solar screens are designed to offer home owners and users with a wealth of energy benefits that will surely make their lives and the carrying out of day-to-day activities much easier and more convenient.

Some of the most vital benefits that you can take advantage of such special solar screen devices are the following:

1.It requires much lower cost in energy. A solar screen works much like a sun-powered panel. It utilizes free and renewable energy from the sun, which means less consumption of electrical power.

2.UV rays and heat that come from the sun are prevented from penetrating into your homes. This means that you can fully enjoy cooler rooms and other indoor areas in spite of the hot summer season.

3.On the other hand, winter time means more convenient and warmer rooms.

4. With these screens, you and your family are able to enjoy full, clear view of exterior surroundings.

6.Solar screens for windows are effective in preventing insects from coming in. You can only imagine being able to enjoy zero presence of flies and other pesky insects inside your home.

An excellent quality of these unique devices is that they efficiently block most of the heat that comes from the sun. Therefore, you have to see to it that your hardware store clerk provides you with the best and most efficient-working device. It is also possible that you first need to have your windows measured in order to get the best fitting screens.

With all these benefits, don’t consumers think it is but right for them to install even those simple yet easily installed solar sun screens on their home windows? If this is not possible, then people can try installing have some of these devices on windows that face the south or west direction. Or perhaps you can decide on just getting one on the room that matters to you the most.

The best thing about them is that they seem to fit almost all types, shapes, and sizes of windows. They are effective whether you close or open your windows. They can be easily removed during times when you deem it unnecessary for them to be installed. Another important benefit of DIY solar screens include the lessening of fading of fabric and carpet colors. These screens are available in various hues, which include rare ones like gold and tangerine. Hence, they are known to easily blend to any room.

Solar Collectors: Simple Way to Utilize Sun Power

Passive solar collectors can be simple items that are heated by the suns rays to produce solar energy. It is somehow the opposite of active type, which works by producing electrical power to charge batteries or  powering small appliances in a direct manner.

Many experts would advise home and building owners to face their houses toward south; this makes sun power collector devices to be easily operated by the sun. This face-the-south advice has been done by many for the longest time and people swear that most sun shine fall on the south most of the day.



Passive sun energy collecting devices such as skylights, sun power tubes and insulated windows are usually found in passive sun powered homes, providing great illumination for the home during most of the day hours. Sky light devices, for instance, can be used in small rooms and bath and are extremely effective in illuminating these areas of the house.

Collectors at windows build up enough heat that can also be utilized at home. These energy converting devices have proven to be effective that more and more consumers have realized its importance in complementing conventional electricity as an alternative source of power. 

With the demand for these devices on the rise, many manufacturers produce them to meet the requirements of the public. Such passive solar energy collectors are easily available and can be bought at most major hardware stores and home improvement shops. It is also possible for people to assemble and install them – one only has to for plans and instructions on how to build them from the Internet.

Needless to say, for homeowners and consumers who have needs for passive energy, there are now alternative solar gadgets that are meant to meet such needs. Indeed, time is near when energy from the sun and other alternative and much cheaper power sources are harnessed in an efficient and inexpensive manner. Alternative energy will have become more easily available, cheaper, and more commonly used in many ways within passive solar homes in these modern times.

Flexible Solar Panels: Amorphous Type

Flexible solar panels are possible one of the most advanced sun power technology devices that have been discovered in the most recent years. They allow your solar systems to stay stronger, more durable, and unyielding particularly during bad weather conditions.

Also known as amorphous panels, these alternative sun-powered gadgets are likewise known to possess a good number of benefits and advantages as well as their own share of disadvantages - details that every meticulous consumer must be aware of. Your preference to utilize these solar panels for sale on most hardware stores and even on online shops, is largely dependent on your energy requirement, monetary budget and local climate.

Good Qualities of Flexible Solar Cell Devices

Flexible/Stretchable – this type of sun gadgets can be stretched in a manner that it will perfectly fit your home’s rooftop. This is quite different from the traditional sun panels that are known to be not stretchable and can hardly fit perfectly the typical roof.

Can be stored for a long time – These amorphous gadgets are also unique in that they can be stored by rolling up when not in used. It is easy to roll these panels as a thin backing substrate layer is applied to the panel proper.


Bad Qualities

Less efficient and reliable – One disadvantage of this type of panel is that they are known to be less efficient than the other types. The reason for such inefficiency is because they fit much looser together. Normally, sun powered gadgets must be fitted together in a tight way in order to gather and create solar power and electricity more efficiently.

However, this is sometimes not true for flexible panel devices. The reason why they turn out to be less efficient is largely because of the incompetency of the fitter or the one installing it on the roof. If the installation is done in utmost care, ensuring the proper fitting together of the panels, then they will move the current more efficiently and hence perform just quite well. 

This is the reason why we should not try to do the installation ourselves if we can't assure the quality of the process. It is simply advisable for an owner to request for the services of a technician or expert installer from the company where the gadget is bought. This is to make sure that the flexible solar cell device is properly installed on top of your home's roof.