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Heating and cooling · Choose and design your heating · thermal-11Plan solar thermal space heating, propane or biogas
Solar thermal collectors can top up space heating and gas can provide a compact backup. Each brings its own design and safety requirements.
How
- Treat solar space heating as a supplement: the sun is weakest when heat is most needed, so it needs large storage and a backup. Get a solar thermal designer to size it.
- For propane, use only appliances rated for it, with sealed or properly vented combustion, and follow the supplier's tank siting rules.
- Propane tank distances depend on country and tank size, so check your gas code. Examples: in Minnesota (USA, based on NFPA 58), an above-ground tank of 125 to 500 US gallons must be at least 10 ft (3 m) from buildings and property lines, and 501 to 2,000 gallons at least 25 ft (7.6 m). In Great Britain, HSE lists 2.5 m for a 150 to 500 litre tank and 3 m for over 500 to 2,500 litres from buildings, boundaries and ignition sources, less with a fire wall.
- For biogas, see the waste module for the digester. Biogas burners must be designed for the gas and the system needs a qualified gas fitter.
- Fit CO alarms near every sleeping area wherever any gas appliance is used.
- Never heat the home with a gas oven or use camp stoves or flameless chemical heaters indoors.
Safety: Gas leaks can cause explosions and poor venting causes CO poisoning. Annual servicing by a qualified technician is recommended by the CDC for gas-burning appliances.
Do these first
Sources
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed 2026-11
- Solar Water Heaters. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver, accessed 2026-11
- LPG: separation distances. UK Health and Safety Executive, accessed 2026-11
- LP gas (fire code information). Minnesota Department of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal, accessed 2026-11