| Solar thermal technology (ST), lesser known than it's | | | | $5000-$6000, qualify for a United States tax credit, |
| electricity generating cousin, is the conversion of solar | | | | covering 50% of the cost. What's more, installation is |
| energy into thermal energy. The technology is generally | | | | relatively easy, taking just a few days at low cost, and |
| separated into three distinct classes; high-, medium-, | | | | requiring only minimal professional training. Another |
| and low-temperature collection. Each class has it's own | | | | possible application of a medium-temperature system |
| set of applications, ranging from low-temperature | | | | is the solar cooker, using solar energy for cooking and |
| systems for heating swimming pools to | | | | drying foods, and has even been employed for |
| high-temperature systems employed in solar thermal | | | | pasteurization. One system in India, using a unique |
| power plants. | | | | technology for concentrating sunlight called the |
| Over 75% of the solar thermal collectors in the United | | | | Scheffler reflector, is capable of cooking up to 35,000 |
| States are of the low-temperature classification. | | | | meals per day. |
| These are primarily used to heat swimming pools, but | | | | High-temperature systems are typically of a |
| can be employed for space heating and cooling, | | | | large-scale, used in ST energy plants. Unlike traditional |
| underfloor heating, among others. Heat collected by | | | | solar power that converts solar energy directly into |
| solar plates is transferred to a heating medium | | | | electricity, ST plants use heat to spin steam or gas |
| (commonly stone, concrete, or water,) where it is | | | | turbines, which generate the electricity. The advantage |
| stored for later use. | | | | of such a system over it's traditional solar power |
| Medium-temperature systems can be used for water | | | | counterpart is that it can store it's heat to be used |
| heating in both residential and commercial | | | | during the nighttime and low-light hours. |
| environments. A 2007 study from the National | | | | Taking advantage of solar thermal systems has the |
| Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests that such | | | | potential to greatly reduce pollution and fuel costs |
| systems could provide for 50% of the hot water | | | | throughout the world. In the ever-expanding world of |
| requirement in the United States, curtailing a massive | | | | green energy, with it's ever-increasing importance, solar |
| amount of CO2 emissions. Systems, while costing | | | | thermal can only continue to grow. |