Roofing > Solar Power Heating System

Solar Energy Heats Up Home Remodeling Projects

Homeowners, developers and building owners concerned about skyrocketing energy costs, shrinking fossil fuels and global warming are turning to solar heating systems to find the latest alternatives to conventional methods.

Roofing has traditionally caused environmental concern, since traditional asphalt must eventually be ripped off and dumped in American landfills. Metal roofing products that can be installed directly over asphalt have solved this dilemma. The introduction of solar power roofing has provided further improvements in energy efficiency, cost savings and environmental responsibility.

Many different types of solar products are available and can be added onto any roof. But the most innovative solar heating systems fuse solar energy and architecture to create a solar heating system that integrates seamlessly with a home's architectural design and solar power roofing.

The Dawn Solar System® harnesses the power of the sun for the newest application in solar power roofs. Dawn describes their system as, "the first commercialized multi-modal, solar thermal collection system that can be externally integrated into a building to produce clean power... that is renewable, sustainable and socially responsible... without compromising the aesthetics of the building. The heating or cooling (multimodal) effects of the Dawn Solar System® decrease the building's overall energy requirements... reducing global demands for fossil fuels and electricity and reducing...operating costs."

When a solar heating system is installed during new construction, renovation or re-roofing, the sun's energy is collected as heat and conducted by the solar power roof or siding material into the thermal collection system. Either an open or closed loop system pumps fluids through to a conventional heat transfer and distribution system. One of the greatest benefits of a solar heating system is its application in warmer climates: as the system collects solar energy as heat, it also cools attic spaces for an overall reduction in homeowners' cooling costs.

One key benefit of the solar thermal collection system is that it can be installed over existing roofing materials, a big selling point for homeowners and roofing contractors who do not wish to contribute to American landfills with up to a ton of discarded roofing materials.

For homeowners who wish to lessen their impact on the environment with the right materials, and who also want to qualify for a tax credit and enjoy a return on investment in just a few short years, solar power roofing and the solar heating system are the answer.