This paper studies how an unglazed solar system performs across the U.S. for water heating, space heating, and space cooling. The important point is that unglazed collectors are not one-size-fits-all: climate, wind, sky infrared, and building load all change the result.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Location | Heating/cooling savings vary by region. |
| Wind and sky IR | Part of the unglazed collector model. |
| Load type | DHW, HTG, and CLG behave differently. |
| System size | Collector area changes economics and performance. |
climate + load + collector size -> system value
The paper argues for an integrated view: unglazed collectors can be attractive because they are lower cost and can look more like ordinary roofs, but their value depends on the local thermal context. That makes it a useful bridge between collector design and site-specific deployment.