What Kinds Of Solar Energy Systems Are There?
A. There are two basic types: active and passive. Active systems are divided into liquid and air systems. They use pumps and pipes (or fans and ducts) to carry heat from the collectors to storage, and from storage to the rooms of the house. Passive systems use the building itself to collect and store solar heat. Large windows act as solar collectors, and thick walls or floors store some of the heat for later use. Sunspaces that collect solar energy for the main living area are one of the most popular passive systems.
