Forty years ago, Harold Hay, 98, invented a simple, inexpensive way to heat and cool a home using the sun’s rays, but without the panels and wiring that come with conventional solar energy systems.

He’s been pushing for its adoption ever since, trying to find footing in each of the solar industry’s last three boom-and-bust cycles.

Yet, despite the merits of his pioneering technology, the energy establishment has shown only fleeting interest.

As Gore said, quoting Upton Sinclair “it is hard to get someone to understand something — if their salary depends upon not understanding it.”

When it comes to climate change, those who refuse to act are mostly those without imagination, or those whose financial interests support the status quo. Passive solar systems cost little or nothing to operate, and so represent a serious threat to the fossil fuel industry.

Hay’s system keeps a house between 65-75 degrees year-round with virtually no electricity. What’s the catch? It requires the house to be built from scratch, and built strong enough to hold a roof-sized pond of water. Still, to have no heating or cooling bills for the life of the home? Wow. [Click the story link at the top of the article for a video of this house and how the system works.]

Even if people didn’t want to have flat roofs, I see no reason why they couldn’t heavily insulate their home and locate the solar pond elsewhere on their property. Then they could use pumps and heat-exchangers to take advantage of the water’s thermal mass. Certainly this could be a great way to cool apartments and commercial buildings as well.

Cheap electricity, fuel oil, and natural gas have kept people using energy-hogging central furnaces and forced-air systems, generating countless gigatons of CO2 for decades. Solutions such as the Skytherm house are as simple and elegant as it gets and produce no CO2. Only two things stand between our current situation and a clean planet and better life: greed and inertia.

Carbon taxes will make the status quo prohibitive, and force many of these types of solutions. There are many details to be worked out, of course, but a better national energy policy can turn this sad situation of needless energy waste around. There’s no excuse anymore, it’s just common sense. It’s high time for solar energy to stop being a science project and get mainstreamed

Thirty some years ago, just after I first started building houses, a friend (another builder) and I took on a solar hot water franchise as a side line to home building. We thought solar heating was cool and avant-garde, and that everyone else would too.

Boy, were we wrong! We couldn’t give solar heating away. People thought that the solar collectors were ugly and no one wanted those ugly contraptions on their roofs. Besides, electricity and gas were cheap, plentiful and we would never run out of either.

My, how times and thinking about things change.

Here’s the scoop from the NAHB Research Center:

“Harnessing energy from the sun to heat water is nothing new. Solar water heaters have been commercially available since the 1800s. What’s new is how solar water heaters look these days.

Most modern solar water heaters mount flush with a home’s roof and resemble skylights. Solar water heaters are an environmentally sound way to reduce energy bills.

Solar energy can meet part or all of a home’s domestic hot water needs. Geographic location, system design, collector orientation, and collector size will determine how much energy can be provided for domestic hot water heating.

Solar water heaters come in a variety of configurations. Each differs in design, cost, performance, and level of complexity.

Most systems have back-up water heating such as electricity or gas. A solar water heating system usually consists of a hot water storage tank, a solar collector that absorbs solar energy, a back-up energy source, and (for forced circulation systems) a pump and controls.

There are two main types of systems: passive and forced circulation. Within each type, there are several configurations. A passive water heater consists of a water tank integrated into or located above a solar collector. In an integrated collector storage (ICS) system, also called batch water heater, the water is heated and stored inside the collector.

These systems are suitable only for warm climates where there is no risk of freezing. In a passive system where the storage is separate from the collector, as water in the collector warms, water flows by natural convection through the collector to the storage tank. A forced circulation system requires a pump to move water from the storage tank to the collector. Most solar water heaters in the United States are the forced circulation type.

There are several types of solar collectors. Most consist of a flat copper plate, painted black, that has water tubes attached to the absorber plate. As solar energy falls on the copper plate and is absorbed, the energy is transferred to water flowing in the tubes. The absorber plate is mounted in a casing that has a clear covering and insulation to protect the absorber plate from heat loss. Other collectors include an integrated collector and storage system and the evacuated tube collector.

Integral collector and storage systems combine the function of hot water storage and solar energy collection into one unit. Evacuated tube collectors produce higher temperature water and are more complex than flat plate collectors. Evacuated tube collectors consist of a series of tubes that contain a heat pipe to absorb solar energy and transfer it to a liquid medium. The tubes are evacuated (vacuum) so that there is very little heat loss from the tube.

Most solar collectors are roof-mounted. Solar water heaters are used for domestic hot water, pool heating and space heating needs.

There are a number of manufacturers of solar water heating systems. Manufacturers can provide information on local dealers and installers. The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation provides evaluations of solar collectors and solar hot water systems.

The evaluation includes an estimate of the performance of different systems based on the location where the system will be used.

Solar water heating systems may require periodic maintenance and have a relatively high initial cost. The payback period however is different depending on the cost of energy for heating water. In areas where electricity is used for water heating, the payback periods are shorter than for areas that use natural gas for water heating.

Care must be taken to guard against freezing of the collector and piping. Solar collectors may have installation limits some communities

An active, flat plate solar collector system will cost approximately $2,500 to $3,500installed and produce about 80 to 100 gallons of hot water per day. A passive system will cost about $1,000 to $2,000 installed but will have a lower capacity.

An experienced contractor should install solar water heating systems. Usually, a roof penetration is required

Solar water heaters save energy and use a renewable resource. By replacing electric energy or fossil fuel use for water heating, environmental carbon emissions associated with water heating are reduced or eliminated. Buy water heater with payday advance service

There’s nothing wrong about being organized for emergencies. In the present economy, nothing is certain: jobs, food, even utilities. Because of this fact, people are now opting for solar powered homes. You don’t need to be wealthy and famous to use solar energy since the solar systems are more within your means these days.

There are advantages in using solar energy for homes. How much are you spending for electricity bills every month? Many residents have empty pockets because of the expensive electricity expenses. One way to lessen your bills is by going with solar power.

You don’t need any wiring if you use solar energy systems. For illustration, for your garden lights and water features, you can make use of solar energy. Most of the devices have night sensors and you no longer have to be concerned about turning them off. Solar lights are easily to be had and you will just need to take them out and set them in the right location where you want to get some good light.

Solar energy is environment friendly. It is an excellent form of renewable and clean energy. You won’t contribute to pollution unlike fossil fuels. By using solar energy systems like the solar cooker, solar thermal systems, and solar generators, you can cook without emissions.

During the opening phase of using solar energy, you will need to pay out money. Just think of it as an investment where you can profit in the long run. With less than $500, you can already use solar energy in your home. Solar energy is free of charge since you will use the sun’s power to make electricity. You can make use of solar lights, solar panels, etc. Don’t cut off your conventional electricity supply even when you’re already using solar energy. It’s not always sunny all throughout the year and so you will need conventional electricity during rainy days. The paramount thing about solar power is that you can reduce your monthly electric bills. If you can switch your home into a full solar energized house, you can surely profit significantly and you will not be anxious even if fuel prices grow.

Power outages usually take place when there are troubles but as long as you have solar power, you can benefit from using electrical appliances continuously. For those who are interested in solar energy, you can start off with undemanding projects like the water features and lights in your garden. These features are simple to develop and you won’t need any wiring.

In all you find here on Earth, there are advantages as well as drawbacks. True enough, solar energy has many advantages but you also need to look into the disadvantages. You need to think over things first before you consider opting for a solar powered home.

These days, you can easily acquire solar power gadgets like flashlights, pool purifiers, ventilators, mosquito inhibitors, heaters, fountain pumps, radios, lighting, and many others. Get ready to spend for the solar energy devices but don’t be troubled. After several months, you will start saving a lot of cash on your monthly bills. Think of it as a one-time investment and in the future, you can unquestionably benefit. buy solar panel with payday loan service