It is here. The first day of fall has come and gone and, while it’s still sunny and mild up here in the Northwest, you can smell those first tinges of crisp, winter air after the sun sets. Already minds turn to soups and stews, blankets, and fireplaces. Yet it’s not time to settle in yet. You’ve got rising heating and energy costs to deal with in the upcoming months. Now is the time to get active! And what better way to do that than installing an active solar heating system. Especially if you spend more time than you like frowning at that old, ineffective furnace, there are plenty of reasons why an active solar heating system makes for a great fall project.

Liquid or Air?

Each and every active solar heater begins with one choice: liquid or air. Heaters may be liquid-based, usually incorporating an antifreeze mixture. Liquid-based systems can be used for hot water, a central air system, or a radiant floor system. Most residential purposes utilize flat-plate collectors for liquid-based heating systems.

Air collectors work when solar radiation heats the collector’s metal plate, which, in turn, heats the air in the collector. An electrically powered fan or blower pulls air from the room through the collector, and blows it back into the room. Air systems aren’t prone to freezing as liquid systems are, but they are far less efficient than liquid systems.

Ultimately, the system you choose will depend on your specific situation; a thorough review with your solar installer should bring to light the best choice for you.

Benefits

There are several benefits of an active solar heating system, besides the pleasure of warmth and free, clean energy from the winter sun. That’s right, free! Energy prices are rising and winters seem to be getting colder. The days of $50 winter electric or gas bills have been replaced by $150 to $200 utility bills. Why not take advantage of nature’s biggest (and brightest) heater? There’s plenty to go round.

That boils down to good economics. Solar heaters are much more cost-effective than their counterparts and the more you use them, the more they save! Ergo, the colder the climate you live in, the more reason you have to get active…with active solar heating! Furthermore, you can also incorporate your water heating needs with your space heat, giving the system twice the work at much less than twice the cost while saving nearly twice as much money. Water and space heating, after all, are the two biggest consumers of energy in the average American household.

But what about the expense of installation? True, active solar heating systems will likely be considerably more expensive up front than conventional propane, natural gas, or electric systems. However, their savings over time ends up making them cheaper. In fact, they’ll eventually pay for themselves! Furthermore, state rebates and tax incentives can often cut those initial costs by up to 50%. Additionally, in many states, solar systems are fully exempt from sales and property taxes.

So, What Will It Cost?

Active solar systems will vary considerably in price. Much will depend on your site and the necessary size of the system. According to the DOE, you can bet that it will cost between $30 and $80 per square foot of collector area, installed. The larger the system, usually, the cheaper it gets. Active solar systems have more components than conventional systems, so expect more controls, sensors, and the like to keep the system running smoothly. These all add up to a high initial cost but are also the main impetus behind generous state and federal incentives.

Two more important points: First, in many cases, your site may not facilitate a system big enough to supply all your heating needs. In that situation you will need some sort of back-up system to pick up the slack. Don’t worry…you’re still going to save. Secondly, be sure you check into all building codes, permit requirements, Homeowner’s Association or subdivision rules, and anything else that may impose system requirements or restrictions. Remember that some states also have in effect rules that override any neighborhood or subdivision rules that inhibit solar installations.

Once you’ve checked out all your options and covered all your bases, you are officially ready to get active. And this may be a good autumn to do it. Federal tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year and they could provide up to $2,000 more off the system cost. Perhaps the biggest selling point for solar power is that, no matter how cold it is outside, the sun still rises, the sun still shines. Get active today and use Mother Nature’s heat source: free and clean.