Well I am getting closer everyday to getting a hot water solar system sorted out for my home with all the help I've been receiving here at the Otherpower.com There just isn't another site out there with so much good information. Can any of you tell me which solar collector is more efficient at converting the suns rays to BTU's of energy per square foot of solar collector???
1) Using a hot water solar collector
OR
2) A photovoltaic solar collector with an electric heating element attached
My second question is, which type of transparent cover is best for a hot water solar collector regardless of price??? Which one let's the suns rays through most efficiently???
- Lexan
- Acrylic
- Glass ( if glass what kind of glass is best??? )
- Other type of covering over the hot water copper collector tubes
Thank you in advance for your help on this one. Rgds, Erich