February 1, 2022
Solar thermal panels are a great way to harvest the sun’s energy and use it to heat your home. So, is the season of love the right season to consider solar?
You’re seeing more and more solar panels everywhere you look, but you may have never stopped to think about how solar power works. Well, on a basic level, of course, it uses energy from the sun and converts sunlight into power!
First, we’ll talk about how solar electrical panels work because you see those more often. These solar panels are made from silicon inside a metal frame with a glass top. When the sun’s rays, called photons, reach this silicon, they take electrons away from the silicon. This makes an electric charge that the solar panel can convert from D/C into A/C current, which is the type of current your home users. So, that’s how solar panels create electricity.
But we are talking specifically about solar thermal panels, which work slightly differently. Instead of taking electrons from a silicon panel, solar thermal power works by using the sunlight to heat water, which is stored in your home, to provide either hot water or heat. So, it works in more of a direct and simple way than solar electrical power does!
As you might imagine, a lot of the effectiveness of solar thermal power is directly tied to how sunny it is in your area. Phoenix is one of the sunniest cities in the whole country, with an annual average of 85% sunniness, and Tucson isn’t far behind!
The future of solar thermal power is looking bright, but not in the immediate future! There are still many factors preventing this technology from being more popular in the present day. For one thing, the price of natural gas is still way lower than all the materials needed for solar thermal systems. There would also be the issue of having enough contractors to install the systems. Basically, all the obstacles typically involved in making renewable energy technologies more mainstream are still at play here.
But, that doesn’t mean there are no futuristic home heating methods you can take advantage of. Parker & Sons offers heating products that are reliable and energy-efficient, utilizing the latest Lennox technology. The best part about this technology is that it can be used in sunny and cloudy weather! If you’re thinking about replacing your old and inefficient system, contact us today!
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