3 Types of Solar Energy to Harness When Building a Cabin
Posted on: 7 March 2017
Constructing a cabin gives you the opportunity to enjoy the comfort and security of a permanent structure as you venture out into the wilderness. Since cabins are often located in remote areas where running electrical lines would be challenging, more and more builders are opting to incorporate solar energy into the design of their cabins.
Here are three types of solar energy that you should harness when constructing your own cabin in the future.
1. Maximize passive solar energy sources.
Passive solar energy is easy to incorporate into your cabin's design. To take advantage of the benefits that passive solar energy can provide, you just have to give the layout and design of your cabin some extra thought.
Things like situating your cabin so that it sits in direct sunlight, using wood, stone, and concrete building materials that will absorb and retain the sun's heat, and using light-colored roofing materials to prevent heat transfer are all passive ways to harness solar energy so that it works in your favor. Be sure to keep these passive elements in mind as you construct your cabin.
2. Add liquid solar panels to your cabin's roof.
Access to hot water can be beneficial when you are spending time outdoors. Being able to sanitize your dishes or take a hot shower at the end of a long day are modern conveniences that can easily be fueled by solar power.
All you have to do is install some specialized solar panels that are filled with liquid on your cabin's roof. The sun's energy heats the liquid inside these panels, and the liquid is then cycled through a custom water tank in order to heat the water being stored within. You can easily provide your cabin with access to hot water by installing some liquid solar panels.
3. Install solar roofing materials.
If you are worried about the weight and appearance of traditional photovoltaic solar panels but you want to be able to harness solar energy to provide your cabin with interior electricity, then you may want to consider solar roofing materials as an alternative.
You can purchase solar collectors that come in a thin film which can be rolled over the surface of your roof. Many roofing companies also offer specialized shingles that can double as solar collectors. These solar roofing materials will provide you with ample energy to power the lights and outlets inside your cabin, but they will not detract from the natural beauty of your cabin's design.
Taking advantage of solar energy can help you make your cabin more functional in the future. Incorporate passive solar energy sources, liquid solar panels, and solar roofing materials into the design of your next cabin.
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