A solar energy thermostatic controller using a solid-state microcomputer that manages air mover(s) to supply heated air for building space heating. Methods includes microcomputer software for communicating with temperature sensors located at the solar heating source, the supply vent source and the building room/interior. The present invention thermostatic control device features a data logger to record temperatures and humidity history, and elapsed time usage history of solar heated air available from attics and crawl spaces; or solar collectors mounted in or on walls, rooftops, or exterior locations. The thermostatic control device manages use of limited solar heated air for building environmental control. Program controlled temperature set points manage an HVAC blower to gather solar heated air during the daily sunlight solar excursion and to control shutdown of the supply system when solar heated air temperature falls below present room/interior temperature. Methods include permanent memory storage of historical data.

A solar thermal control system includes a membrane configured to receive solar energy, wherein the membrane is configured to form a cavity between the membrane and an outer surface of a structure by coupling to the outer surface, and wherein the solar energy is configured to heat air within the cavity. The control system also includes a thermal collection unit configured to connect to the cavity and receive and direct air from the cavity, and a ducting system coupled to the thermal collection unit and configured to direct air from the thermal collection unit to at least one of the interior of the structure and a vent.

A solar air heating system comprises a solar collector. The collector comprises a front glazing and a perforated absorber behind the glazing. A front plenum is defined between the front glazing and the absorber. A back plenum is defined between the absorber and a back wall. The front and back plenums are fluidly connected through the perforated absorber. A flow separator divides the back plenum into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The inlet and outlet chambers are fluidly connected via the front plenum. The inlet chamber has an air inlet. The outlet chamber has an air outlet. The front plenum has a smaller air exchange interface with the inlet chamber than with the outlet chamber so that a temperature gain is greater when the air flows from the front plenum to the outlet chamber than when the air flows from the inlet chamber to the front plenum.

A system for providing supplemental heating to a hot water heater and an electric heat pump includes a solar thermal collector, a solar thermal storage vessel, a first water circulating system, a second water circulating system, and a controller. The first water circulating system circulates water between the solar thermal storage vessel and the solar thermal collector. The second water circulating system circulates heated water between the solar thermal storage vessel, the hot water heater, and a heat exchanger associated with the heat pump. The controller is configured to cause water circulation between the hot water heater and the solar thermal storage vessel so as to raise a temperature of water in the solar thermal storage vessel and/or in the hot water heater, and to cause circulation of heated water from the hot water heater to the heat exchanger to provide auxiliary heat for the heat pump.