Solar Air Heater

The sun’s power makes life possible. It builds trees and flowers. We have harnessed it to make electricity in Photovoltaics. There is a much simpler and less expensive way to harness that energy.

Solar water heaters and solar air heaters use a series of tubes painted black that in the sun’s rays heat water or air contained within them. In the case of the air heaters, this air then cycles through the house. Hot air in, cold air out to the heater to warm up.

I’ve seen some really clever designs. The one I like the most uses old soda cans as the tubes. Used cans destined for the garbage or recycling now repurposed into a solar air heater.

These air heaters can cycle air passively with the hot air venting out the top, and the cool air getting pulled in through a bottom vent. Most of them use a fan. The fan uses only a small amount of energy, much less than that of a conventional heater. The fan uses so little energy, it can be powered by a small PV solar panel. Now you’re heating the house using NO fossil feuls.

The best part is that these can be constructed yourself, although if you look online you can find many varieties. The Soda Pop Can heater comes from the very professional and upscale design priced just under $2700 to the homemade which run online for about $100. I’d consider building one yourself, or save yourself dozens of hours of work and check them out online.

Heating costs account for a great proportion of your energy bill.

Couple a solar air heater with a solar water heater, and you’ll remarkably reduce your energy bills and save a bundle.