DIY: Thermal Storage Tubes

I have five Sun-Lite Thermal Storage Tubes placed along three large, contiguous south-facing windows with a roof overhang--what the manufacturer calls a "direct gain water wall." Translucent, they absorb and store solar energy while transmitting natural daylight. There are daily wide temperature variations here in Albuquerque throughout the year, which are tempered by the water in the tubes--in the summer and winter, they store the sun's energy during the day and give it off slowly at night, minimizing variations between day and night temperatures and the need for artificial heating and cooling....The tubes also temper the view. Natural light comes through, but the view to my neighbor's not-very-attractive carport is diffused while the trees beyond are visible above them.

When we bought the tubes second-hand, they had never been used. New, the five-foot tall, 18"-diameter tubes cost $174 each. They come in four standard sizes, from four feet to ten feet tall.

I love the way they look and the way they soften what can be pretty harsh light in the southwest. Adding the element of water and the tubular forms bring a quality into the space that contrasts beautifully with the angularity of the walls and ceilings.

The Solar Components Corporation website offers a number of other solar products worth exploring.