Take advantage of the long summer days in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where daylight can stretch up to 15 hours and 37 minutes. This abundant sunshine makes it a wise choice to install solar panels and generate energy for your home. The favorable weather conditions and extended daylight hours during the summer make it an ideal time for the installation.
If you have a spacious roof or yard, you can significantly reduce your heating bills by utilizing solar power for active solar heating. These systems use either liquid or air to transfer heat from solar panels into your home’s heating system. By converting your existing radiant heating system or adapting a forced-air furnace to a liquid-based solar heating system, you can save money on fuel. During the winter, the liquid circulates through the solar panels, absorbing heat and reducing the workload on your boiler, ultimately lowering your utility bills.
The Department of Energy (DOE) recommends air-heated solar installations for spaces not already connected to a traditional heating system. However, it’s important to note that air heating doesn’t provide significant thermal storage like liquid systems or passive solar heating, where heat is stored in floors, fibers, or walls. It’s worth considering local zoning codes, as they may require a standard furnace for heating if solar systems alone are deemed inadequate.
Federal tax credits are available for various types of solar installations, such as solar water heaters and photovoltaic systems, until 2016. If you choose an eligible system, you can receive a 30 percent tax credit on the cost of the system and its installation, without any upper limit.
To learn more about implementing a solar installation in your Twin Cities home or office, reach out to the knowledgeable experts at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. They have been serving the region since 1974 and can provide valuable information on energy-efficient solutions. Their goal is to educate customers about energy and home comfort issues, specifically related to HVAC systems.
For additional information on solar installations and other St. Louis Park heating and cooling topics, you can download their free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Take the first step towards a more sustainable future by visiting Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning’s website, where you can explore special offers and begin your solar journey today.