alt.energy.renewable

bill wrote:

>... here in upstate NY, no passive solar method will amount to anything in
>the winter due to the almost constant overcast.

Inexpensive active solar works well in Rochester NY. Simulations with TMY2
hourly weather data indicate that 240 ft^2 of twinwall polycarb sunspace
glazing and an auto radiator and a 1000 gallon unpressurized heat storage
tank can 100%-solar heat a house in a typical year and provide most of
the hot water, with a minimum tank temperature of 91 F in December.

If cloudy days are like coin flips, a house that can store enough heat
for N cloudy days can be 100(1-2^-N)% solar-heated, eg 97% for 5 days.

Nick