BASED ON TECHNOLOGY

Currently, and increasingly, heating is one of the main applications that can be given to solar energy, either because the construction of properties is based on the premise that the design must be conditioned to the optimization of this energy source (passive systems), whether it is to activate devices that run on electricity or to power solar heating systems that start up with hot water (active systems).

Passive solar heating

It is capable of maintaining the temperature of a house without the need to turn on any of the traditional HVAC systems, thanks to its unique design and construction (orientation and location, quality materials, adequate insulation, air circulation, etc.).It requires an appropriate design and distribution to store solar energy in walls and floors and use it in times of need. The house heats itself, almost without human intervention and silently. It is a type of solar heating that can complement other systems and help reduce costs, or even, in some cases, be the only existing one.Thus, making use of passive solar heating reduces energy consumption by a high percentage, always depending on the circumstances. It should be noted that the most avant-garde architectural trends consider passive solar heating to be the future of heating and cooling.This type of heating is part of the so-called bioclimatic architecture, which bases the construction and design of its projects on the integration and adaptation to its environment, in order to make the best use of available resources, including solar energy.

• Heating with solar thermal energy. Heating the home is one of the most common uses of solar thermal energy, which uses solar thermal panels, covered with transparent tempered and dark glass, to attract solar radiation and transform it into heat energy. There are two main types of solar thermal panels: those that allow the circulation of water through a circuit in the panel itself, without storing it; and those that do include a storage device for later use. The installation works with collectors that collect and concentrate heat to produce high temperatures. Among the most common types of heating with solar thermal energy we can point to solar radiators or underfloor heating. As we can see, the main differences between photovoltaic and thermal solar panels can be summarized by the type of energy obtained from the sun’s rays, the mode or operation to achieve this transformation, or the material from which the panels are made.
• Solar heating with hot air. This method of heating a house works by heating the air from the outside through a fan, which is installed on the roof or façade and then blown into the house. It is a very effective method for damp and cold homes, such as second homes that are often closed for long periods of time, as it creates warm, pleasant, and dry environments quickly, as well as helping to eliminate mold and odors. It can function as a primary heating system or as a backup to the primary heating system.