CHOICE
ENERGY
SOLAR AIR HEATING -
the epitome of simple
Solar air heating is the solution that requires no fuel and has no moving
parts, and is by far the most cost effective heating option available.
All that is required is a good south facing wall and sun.
12 ft wide x 8 ft high
Full
width openings are created through your existing wall at top and bottom (as
seen below), letting in heat and daylight while retaining the vast majority
of the wall space in its original condition.
These heaters are designed with the generous and valuable help of
the fellow that wrote this article, and who lives here in Bozeman:
http://builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/solar_barn_project.htm and
hosts an excellent web site for low cost, weekend scale, do-it-yourself
solar projects. 
Basically, air passages are created through the existing wall at
top and bottom, the outside is painted a dark color, 2x6 framing is attached
to the outside of the building onto which clear polycarbonate panels are
attached. The end result is a sealed 6-inch thick greenhouse that
pumps warm air inside only during the heating season - during summer the
panel is shaded or receives very little direct light. Backdrafting
during night time or cloudy weather is prevented with simple flaps on the
inside of the warm air passages.
Installation generally takes about three days with two people.
Email
for a price estimate or to schedule a site visit.
Forced air applications are available for rooms with less available
wall space on the inside.
Specs on heat
output*:
Considering a 20x8 collector, 160 sq ft
Building insulation: R19 in walls and ceiling of 700 sq ft room
Temp rise between intake and output vents: 50-60 degrees
Btu of peak output: 25,000 Btu/hour, total daily heat gain
130,000 Btu, or 38 kWh (kilowatt hours)
Petroleum fuel equivalent of 130,000 Btu: 2 gallons
Indoor air temp achieved on sunny day: 60-75 degrees F
Time required to raise indoor air temp from 35 to 65 degrees: 3
hours
Cost per sq ft of collector (materials only, Jan 2009):
$3.50/sq ft
Cost per sq ft of installed collector: $12-15/sq ft
Cost of commercially available collector: $61.59/sq ft plus
shipping and installation (includes solar fan)
* Taken by permission from Gary Reysa, Build A Simple Solar Heater, Mother Earth News, December 2006/January 2007
For more info or to schedule a fee site assessment, email us
Bringing Renewable Energy to Bozeman
and Southwest Montana
Fuel Local - Drive Sustainable - Be A Solution