How it Works

Appalachian Energy designs solar-powered HVAC systems which continue to work on cloudy days. To understand how this is possible - imagine taking a garden hose and rolling it out in the sun in your yard. Once the water within the hose gets hot, it can stay warm for several hours after sunset. In effect, you are "storing" heat in the hose.

Solar thermal collectors work on the same principle - but more efficiently. Instead of water, we use a special liquid that can reach temperatures of over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After running the liquid to an exchanger which transfers the heat without mixing fluids - this heat is "stored" in a domestic hot water tank.

The Appalachian Energy system combines the benefits of both forced hot air and circulating hot water home heating systems.