History.
Guy Marsden's Solar heating construction blog. This blog details every step that I have taken to construct my solar augmented heating system. The design goal for my solar augmented heating system is that it should be capable of heating the building to 65° inside so long as the outside temperature remains above freezing and there are good clear sunny days. Before I started re-construction of the building I had a heat load analysis done based on the intended final construction. This included allowing for the increased insulation, and interior thermal window inserts. This solar heating system has performed exactly as intended, and only draws propane on cloudy days or when temperatures drop below 35°F - which is for several months through the Maine winters.
As you'll see I later added a wood stove so that I could reduce my fossil fuel consumption for heating the building. I began by using wood scraps from my workshop, and later scrounged wood from construction sites. How to use photocells, LDRs, CdS cells, photoresistors! BuildItSolar: Solar energy projects for Do It Yourselfers to save money and reduce pollution. How to Make a Solar Power Generator.
Reference: Parabolic Trough Tried and Tested. BuildItSolar: Solar energy projects for Do It Yourselfers to save money and reduce pollution.