Is it possible to turn my unused detached garage as a huge solar collector/power plant for my home?
February 26th, 2008
joe friday’s grrl asked:
I live in an older neighborhood, and we have a garage that we never use because it’s small and inconvenient. It sits about twenty feet from the back of our house. The garage is masonry block construction, about 18′ x 18′, and has a hipped roof. It faces due south, and is level with our daylight basement, where we have our hot water heater and gas unit for heating and cooling (newer model). I’m wondering if it makes sense to super-insulate this garage, fill it with water storage tanks or some other material that will hold heat, and add roof windows or solar panels on the south-facing side. I know next to nothing about storing solar energy, or methods of getting the warmed air into the house, but I will definitely do the research and try this if it sounds feasible and worth the effort.
BTW, I don’t have a car anymore. It got vandalized, was a total loss, and one of the best things that’s happened to me. I started riding the bus and walking to everywhere I was able, and recently purchased an electric scooter. I don’t plan on replacing my car.
Norma
I live in an older neighborhood, and we have a garage that we never use because it’s small and inconvenient. It sits about twenty feet from the back of our house. The garage is masonry block construction, about 18′ x 18′, and has a hipped roof. It faces due south, and is level with our daylight basement, where we have our hot water heater and gas unit for heating and cooling (newer model). I’m wondering if it makes sense to super-insulate this garage, fill it with water storage tanks or some other material that will hold heat, and add roof windows or solar panels on the south-facing side. I know next to nothing about storing solar energy, or methods of getting the warmed air into the house, but I will definitely do the research and try this if it sounds feasible and worth the effort.
BTW, I don’t have a car anymore. It got vandalized, was a total loss, and one of the best things that’s happened to me. I started riding the bus and walking to everywhere I was able, and recently purchased an electric scooter. I don’t plan on replacing my car.
Norma
