SOLAR energy to help heat your home?

[Severian]

Wouldn't you be better just buying some commercially available solar panels?

[CaptainPanic]

It depends. If you want hot air, it makes sense to heat the air directly. If you want hot water, it makes sense to heat the water directly (solar boiler). If you want electricity... well, you get it.

 

I'd say that the general rule is: the more steps you put in between, the more efficiency losses you get.