In 2020, solar panel installations saw an increase of 43%, despite the pandemic. As homeowners become more eco-conscious, they’re turning to renewable energy sources, such as the sun. After all, it’s easy to harness its power and it’s not harmful to the environment to do so.
But what many people don’t know is that there are different types of solar heating. More specifically, you can get active and passive types.
Wondering what these 2 things are? Then read on to see the difference between active vs passive solar heating.
What Is Active Solar Heating?
Active solar heating is where you use technology to process sunlight and convert it into something else, such as electricity.
This usually means there are more complicated systems in place for the conversion of energy. For example, active solar heating might use a heat exchanger, antifreeze, and pumps.
You might think that active solar heating systems are just for residential rooftops. But in fact, you can use these for power plants as well.
What Is Passive Solar Heating?
As the name suggests, passive solar heating just uses direct sunlight, without the need for additional equipment. A simple example is using a greenhouse’s glass panels to heat up the plants inside on a hot and/or sunny day.
As you might imagine, passive solar heating has been used by humankind since the beginning of time. A well-designed house can be much warmer in the wintertime, thanks to windows and doors placed in the right spots. The materials chosen (such as brick and stone) can help with capturing solar energy and retaining heat indoors too.
Active vs Passive Solar Heating: The Differences
The most obvious difference is that passive solar heating is much cheaper to achieve. Chances are, you’ve already got strategically-placed windows and a built greenhouse, so you can harness solar energy already. However, they’ll need to be well placed to take full advantage of the sunshine.
With active solar heating, you’ll have to invest in equipment. The plus side is, your current property doesn’t need a special design. Solar panels can go right on top of your roof.
While passive solar heating is enough for some households, most can benefit from a combination of passive and active solar heating. So if you’re interested in getting active solar heating (aka a solar panel system), then you should contact a professional like blueravensolar.com/indiana/.
Harness Solar Energy
Now that you know the difference between active vs passive solar heating, you’ll be able to harness solar energy to the max. A combination of both will be ideal, as you’ll lower your carbon footprint, as well as your energy bills.
So if you don’t already have a solar panel system, get in touch with a professional. Not only can they install one for you, but they can also give you active solar heating tips too!
To find out more about going green, keep reading the rest of our blog page.