Replace the Furnace with Solar Power

• Purchase solar panels and a solar panel power generating kit, if you want to run your conventional furnace purely from solar energy. This is the more expensive route, but will save money over the long term. You will first need to determine how much energy the panels must generate. Look at your furnace to determine the amount of amps and volts needed. Once you have the numbers, simply multiply them together. For example, if your furnace is 100 volts and uses five amps, your solar panels will need to generate 500 watts of power to run the furnace full time. If your only using the solar panels part time, some of the energy can be stored for a later time. Once you know how much power you need, purchase the appropriate size and number of panels. Finally, the solar panel generating kit needs to be connected to your conventional furnace. Even though the initial expenses are quite high, you'll be heating your home from a renewable resource that will cost you far less in the long run.
  
  

Space Heating with Solar Power

• Using solar energy to strategically space heat is far less expensive and far easier than the whole house approach. A simple 4 foot by 4 foot solar space heater can heat a 400 square foot space. The solar space heaters are easy enough for most people to create on their own. Necessary materials include a box frame with a black metal back and a glass front. There needs to be a small ventilation space on both the bottom and the top of the metal backing. This allows the cool air to come in the bottom and escape out the top when it has been warmed.
  
  Once the solar space heaters have been made, place them on the south facing windows of the house. The space heaters can also hang below the south facing windows, if they are attached to the sill. The heaters take in cool air and release warm air in a circulation effect. By placing several of these solar space heaters throughout the home, less energy is used from the conventional furnace, thus reducing your costs.