The capabilities and benefits of solar thermal heat has been numerous and the technology has been around for years, so why is it still not being applied to the HVAC industry, as well as the electrical power industry as an industry standard rather than a value-engineered consideration? Of course, the answer may be that the ROI is not attractive to building owners, and/or cheap fuel and electricity prices, and/or the first cost won’t fit into the budget. Each of these obstacles can be a reason not to proceed with solar energy, but we need to recognize that energy is not endless and certainly fuel and utility prices can be counted on to increase each year. Having said this, here is my suggestion for proactive and responsible application of thermal heat:
Now I know we live in a democratic society, but we need to get more serious about energy conservation and reducing carbon footprint both in the commercial arena and the residential arena by mandating and/or being more proactive and requiring solar heat, rather than simply considering it but then not following through. Solar heat is a very simple and cost-effective system, and we are being shortsighted by not considering solar heat as either an add-on option in a building program or as a necessary energy enhancement consideration for a mechanical system upgrade to specific applications. This type of installation is not complicated, and the layperson/home owner is quite capable of understanding how this system will operate in his home. Certainly, it is easier to understand than the home owner’s central A/C system and its refrigerant cycle. Heck, I even have to go back to the tech book to explain that system to others.