| Solar energy is the way to go this new century | | | | but their size may be altered depending on the |
| as is it considered one of the cleanest and | | | | size of the building. Ideally they will need to be |
| greenest energy available to the general public as | | | | mounted on a south facing surface, which |
| of now. It is perfect for domestic use as it is | | | | receives direct sunlight for most of the day. |
| considered to be cost effective as it can harness | | | | Evacuated Tube Collectors use the suns warmth |
| energy for a lot of different appliances. Typically, | | | | to heat water. They, unlike flat panel collectors |
| solar heating panels are used in housing societies | | | | are made up of several cylindrical collectors which |
| or small businesses to either harnessing energy or | | | | are laid parallel. These panels have the tendency |
| used in heating along with a myriad other | | | | to collect more heat from different angles. |
| purposes. They are generally installed on top of | | | | They too should be south facing and share the |
| buildings so that they can make the most out of | | | | characteristics of the flat plate collectors with |
| the immense solar energy available. If you are | | | | respect to proportionality with the building size. |
| looking for a new solar heating system, you might | | | | Photovoltaic panels save electricity by converting |
| want to know about the various heating panels | | | | solar energy into electricity. By using photovoltaic |
| available in the market, namely, Flat plate | | | | panels with a battery, inverter and controller you |
| Collectors, Evacuated Tube Collectors and | | | | can start using your own generated electricity for |
| Photovoltaic panels. Here is a short description: | | | | domestic units. This can be very helpful if you |
| Flat plate collectors turn heat radiated by the sun | | | | don't have too many appliances in particular. |
| into hot water. The liquid that is being regulated | | | | Photovoltaic systems convert solar radiation into |
| through the thermal solar panels is heated by | | | | electricity. The simplest systems provide |
| sunlight; this then passes through a coil in the | | | | electricity to a building directly but they can also |
| water tank which in turn heats the water stored | | | | be used with batteries to store energy. PV panels |
| in the tank. | | | | can be stand-alone or mounted to a suitable wall |
| They are typically used for domestic purposes | | | | or roof. |