Creative ways of harnessing solar power around the home
When most people think of harnessing solar power around the home, they immediately picture solar panels installed on rooftops. Indeed, this type of solar energy presents numerous benefits for multiple premises, but solar power extends far beyond that.
There are many other ways in which you can harness solar energy for use in the home. This article will explore some of those innovative ways and how you can get on board.
Solar power for outdoor lights
While indoor lights can be powered by traditional solar panels, solar energy can now be harnessed for powering outdoor lights. If you have a yard, patio or other outdoor space, you can now use solar energy for landscape lights, driveway lighting, pool lights and lamp posts.
How do these fixtures work? They contain tiny solar panels that can harness the sun's energy during the day. This photovoltaic energy is then converted to light power when the fixtures are turned on. It is an excellent way of saving on electrical costs from the main grid.
Solar water heaters
Perhaps one of the best ways of taking the extra step in harnessing solar energy is by installing solar water heaters. These appliances work by collecting solar energy and heating household water through solar thermal panels.
The heat is directly transferred to the home's water supply and can be channeled for use in showers, laundry machines and kitchens. Solar water heaters have been shown to reduce utility bills by as much as 50%.
Solar power for garden features
To spice up your garden even further, you can use multiple components that are powered by solar energy. For example, fountains, ponds, and birdbaths can be powered by solar energy to save on costs around the home. These items don't require cumbersome cables and wires to draw electricity from an outlet. They simply harness solar energy when the sun is out and can use that energy to operate when they're turned on.
Solar chargers
A simple way of further harnessing solar energy is to use a portable solar charger. Rather than plugging electrical devices into outlets in your home and driving up your utility bills, you can use these portable chargers to power your devices.
Solar chargers contain a small solar panel that can harness the sun's energy and convert it into electrical energy. Many different devices (from cell phones to computers and radios) can be powered by a solar charger.
Contact solar energy companies to learn more about renewable energy.