anybody ever mess with solar air panels?

[y2kbug]

i want to build one for my house after i get done insulating it.

[freebeard]

Define 'messed with'? I've designed one but never built it. ...so far.

What do you have in mind? A kitchen window bump-out, or an Earthship South-facing greenhouse? Have you followed Steve Bear?

Steve Baer
American inventor (1938–2024)
Steve Baer was an American solar energy inventor and pioneer of passive solar technology. Originally, as a largely self-taught designer and builder, he worked on small projects in Colorado and New Mexico; in time he and Zomeworks, the company he founded, achieved international recognition. Baer successfully obtained a number of solar-technology patents. He contributed to industry publications, and wrote a number of books. Baer served on the board of directors of the U.S. Section of the International Solar Energy Society, and on the board of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association Continued in Wikipedia

It appears that he passed in 2024-05-17. RIP


Mother Earth News: Steve Baer and Holly Baer: Dome Home Enthusiasts
By The Mother Earth News Editors | Published on July 1, 1973

[y2kbug]

i was thinking of a wall type solar collector(??) next to the back wall of the house. my back wall is always in the sun then i ca blow heat in the house. i could do liquid and pump it in my cistern or a container in the basement.

right now im working on the insulation. my house is like swiss cheese! then i want to start building fun stuff!

still reading the article…

[freebeard]

Does the wall face SW---S---SE? Any windows in it?

Long story short with Zomeworks: leave the wall uninsulated, put a rack of 30-55 gallons drums painted black against the wall, wrap that with insulation with a closure for night time.

If you angle the glazing it creates room for a planting bed. If vertical, you could cover the ground with white reflective gravel.

[freebeard]

Oh, yeah. Fill the drums with water.

That's the 'filthy hippy' solution. Way up scale would be eight foot tall 2-3 foot diameter acrylic tubes standing vertically. Fish farming optional. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Alchemy_Institute)