Solar Energy a Viable Heating Alternative

Think Green, the wise man says.

Okay. But is he talking about caring for the environment? Are dwindling supplied of fossil fuels his concern? Or is this about money?

It all depends, since if the topic is solar power, you’ve got them all covered. Unlike with the family auto,  where gas prices seem to have risen every time you fill the tank, once the initial costs of solar power are accounted for, the fuel is free.

Will be, too, long as the sun comes up.

Like many other consumer goods available today, the public has a wide and varied choice of ways to convert this natural energy to their use.

Solar thermal panels involve water circulating through tubes to be heated by the sun.  Saskatoon’s Confederation Inn is a stunning example. Its recently-installed 40 panels –the largest commercial hot water project in Saskatchewan -- provide up to 50 per cent of the hotel’s required heating.

Businesses, industries and institutions residing and doing business in Saskatchewan which qualify for a financial incentive for the installation of a solar water heating system under the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat Program qualify for the SHIFT incentive. Taking advantage of the grants, the Confederation Inn’s solar panel project costs were reduced by approximately $60,000.

While the SWIFT program is in place to assist large volume consumers, Saskatchewan residents are eligible to receive a grant for energy efficient upgrades they make to their home through the provincial EnerGuide for Houses program. The maximum retrofit homeowners can receive from both federal and provincial sources is a combined total of $10,000.

Today solar electric power works for most homes, with energy efficient lights and appliances, versatile and efficient inverters and major advances in solar panel technology making it a viable option for the home owner.

At heart of the issue is a solar or photovoltaic (PV) cell, the smallest element that converts light into electric energy. Each cell is made of silicon, treated to generate a flow of electricity when light shines on it. Solar modules are series of solar cells wired together.

The technology has been around for years. Modern solar cells with practical efficiency were invented in the early 1950s and have been used to power satellites since 1959. They use became popular in remote areas during the 1970s to provide industrial  power in remote locales for radio or microwave repeater stations, though only recently have prices become reasonable for popular urban use.

The more energy you require, the more solar panels you will need. Your system will include an inverter, which will convert the direct current (DC) solar power into household Alternating Current (AC). Again, the size of inverter required relates to the energy you wish to draw.

A house can be run by solar power alone or can be connected to the grid, drawing power from the grid when necessary or feeding power back into the grid when the system produces more than required. Off-grid systems are ideal for installation in remote areas.