| You’ve grown tired of paying monstrous | | | | Once gardening issues are resolved, you need to |
| electric bills and have decided to go solar. Solar | | | | take a close look at the surface areas. Much like a |
| panels, however, aren’t exactly your taste. | | | | car, it is important that the sun has a method for |
| Don’t worry, you can go solar without them. | | | | penetrating the exterior of the home. The |
| Solar panels are used to convert sunlight into | | | | primary issue concerns windows. Are there any |
| electricity, which can be used to light and heat a | | | | and, if so, how big are they? |
| home. They are not, however, the only method | | | | The easiest method to generate solar heat in |
| for accomplishing these goals with the sun. A | | | | your home is by placing large windows on the |
| simple experiment you can try in your driveway | | | | south side of the home. Home Depot, here we |
| will show you why. | | | | come. To truly maximize the effect, you should |
| Park your car in a sunny spot on your driveway. | | | | also have two additional components. |
| Get in, mark the time, close the vents and roll up | | | | The first is a fan system that will help circulate air |
| the windows. It starts getting pretty warm pretty | | | | out into the rest of the home. The temperature |
| quick, eh? You’ve just experience a concept | | | | differences from room to room will eventually |
| known as direct gain energy. The power of the | | | | equalize, but a few ceiling fans can help. |
| sun is more than sufficient to create heating and | | | | The second issue to consider is your flooring. |
| lighting if it is manipulated to hit your home in the | | | | Windows are great and all, but what happens |
| right way. | | | | when the sun goes down? No more sunlight and |
| Direct gain is a concept that has existed for | | | | no more heat. To overcome this problem, you |
| thousands of years. Before electricity was in | | | | can make improvements to the flooring below |
| abundant supply, ancient societies planned entire | | | | the windows. Yank up the carpet and put in some |
| structures around the concept. You can learn | | | | material that soaks up the sunlight. Certain |
| from their experience. | | | | ceramic and masonry products will hold significant |
| The first rule of direct gain is to focus on the | | | | amounts of heat. As the sun beats down on |
| south facing side of your home. In the Northern | | | | them, they slowly heat up during the day. Once |
| Hemisphere, the south side of any structure will | | | | the sun sets, they start giving off heat which |
| receive the most sunlight during the year. If the | | | | allows you to maximize your passive solar |
| sun is not striking the south side of your home, | | | | system. |
| you’re going to need to move some trees | | | | While this strategy will not replace your traditional |
| and what not. Failing to do so will kill any direct | | | | heating costs, it can act as a supplemental |
| gain heating options you have available to you. | | | | system to take care of heating issues during the |
| The sun must have a clear path to the south side | | | | day and early evening. Break out your hammer |
| of your structure or you can stop reading this | | | | and you can cut a chunk out of your utility bill! |
| article. | | | | |