Thank you for considering the Solar Heating of the Future: Solar Beam Concentrator
Example of a purchase of a solar heating system:
You’re “Pre-buying” your solar heating fuel for 5 to 6 years (then your SolarBeam) is now paid for, – after that you should go on to enjoy 20/30 years of energy free/emission free heating returns.
Fact and findings of heating systems:
In our climate, radiant floor heating systems use 20% less energy than other heating systems, regardless of the fuel used. Below are several reasons:
1 Radiant heat supplied by Boilers, whether fueled by propane, oil, coal, wood, wood pellets, or natural gas, are more efficient when operated at lower temperatures , because at these lower temperature’s, the flue gasses are operating at lower temperatures, therefore less heat is exiting up the chimney. Radiant floor heating systems will work very well with water temperatures in the 80 to 120 degree Fahrenheit range; whereas baseboard heated systems really need water heated in the range of 175 to 195 degrees.
2 When heating with radiant floor you are warming objects, baseboard heat is making hot air by convection (hot air which rises to the ceiling), you wind up with hotter air at the ceiling where the difference in temperature between the outside and inside is increased, leading to faster heat loss. The speed at which heat leaves a building, discounting outside wind speed and air infiltration, is dependent upon this temperature difference (delta T)
3 Radiant floor heating systems the heating curve is reversed-heat at floor vs. heat at ceiling.
4 People who occupy a building generally turn up the thermostats until they feel comfortable.
In radiant floor heated building systems, thermostats are generally set at lower by the occupants because when your feet are warm, you feel warm. When your feet are cold, you feel cold, you turn up the thermostat, and by the time your feet are warm with a baseboard heat system, the air at the ceiling is far above room set temperature, which increases the rate of heat loss due to the increased delta T. The higher thermostat settings lead to higher energy use.
*In addition to energy efficiency, there are more reasons to put radiant heat in all new buildings and retrofit old buildings whereas conveniently possible.*
1 Because radiant floor heat does not require high temperature water, far more options are available as heat sources. To heat 180 degree water required by conventional baseboard heating systems, you are pretty much limited to burning something as: Oil, propane, coal, wood pellets, wood chips, etc. The price and availability of these fuels in the future is unpredictable. With a radiant floor system in 100% of a building floor(s) all options are possible, including geothermal, solar, cogeneration, and can adapt to all easily.
2 By installing, or having radiant in the entire slab or floor(s) you are achieving heat storage for a building, home, at very little expense. An added comfort level of warmth.
3 Since the sun does not shine at night, we do have a few cloudy days in the winter, being able to store heat in a slab means less need for buying fuel if the solar option is employed. In addition to storing extra heat made during less needed heat call, the use of a Mass Thermal Storage tank is a solution to storing heat when needed at a later date/time (generally at night). Building thermal storage tanks and sizes are site and use specific.
4 A research from the 1950’s revealed that schools that had radiant systems had lower rates absenteeism due to colds and flu. Another fact surmised that was due to the fact that on rainy days, staff and students would enter the school buildings with cold damp feet. In radiant heated schools, these feet would soon warm and dry out. Whereas in forced hot air heated schools, feet would remain damp and cold for longer period of time. Also, a mopped radiant floor is quickly dried: less chance of a slip and fall.
5 Baseboard heating units need cleaning, can be damaged (paint chipped off, dents, etc.) and produce noise when heating up and cooling down. A radiant slab has none of these draw backs. Baseboard units can develop leaks at multiple soldered connection points: with radiant floor there are easily accessible, easy repairable connections per 300+ square feet of floor, the tubing itself is thoroughly protected by concrete slab in which is embedded.
Regarding solar power- the sun has not taken a day off in 4.5 Billion+-years and has a predictable supply.
Consider taking the next step towards energy independence, and feeling warm at the same time.
Pre-Pay your future solar system and enjoy many years of reliable emission free heat and power.
SolarBeam is an affordable solution and a tremendous investment in today’s market.
