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One can’t deny the importance of energy. Everyone requires electricity to power various appliances, do household chores, and function effectively. However, electricity isn’t cheap, and it’s made most homeowners look for various ways of saving costs on electricity while still conserving energy.
And fortunately, there’s an alternative that’s been made possible, solar energy.
An Overview Of Solar Energy
Solar energy is considered an excellent renewable source of energy as it harnesses the power from the light and heat of the sun. It doesn’t emit harsh chemicals and greenhouse gases that can harm the environment, leading to cleaner air and air pollution-free homes. They’re also generally easy to maintain since you are only required to clean the solar panels and dust them once in a while to free them from dirt, debris, and leaves.
However, solar energy isn’t a new concept anymore and has been proven to have numerous advantages and uses at home. And even though the initial installation cost of solar equipment can be a bit high, solar panels usually last between twenty and thirty years, making it a worthy investment. This time frame shows that it’s durable. In addition, you can be guaranteed lower electricity bills which means you get to save.
Aside from being cost-effective, it’s also eco-friendlier. It’s a sustainable way of generating energy while reducing your carbon footprint.
The Many Applications Of Solar Energy At Home
With all that solar energy offers, you may be thinking about how you can use it at home. To give you some ideas, here are some ideas and ways to use solar energy at home:
- Powers Appliances
Perhaps, one of the critical and essential functions of solar energy that’s been very appealing to most people is electricity generation. And with the major steps made in improving and innovating solar panels, more people are considering embracing its financial and environmental benefits.
Solar panels can be grouped and placed on the roof of your house or open spaces to absorb sunlight which is utilized and turned into electricity. The AC power in the solar panels connects with your main electrical panels to power the appliances in your home.
Depending on the solar power system you consider installing in your home, this solar-generated electricity can be used alongside the normal electricity you get from grid systems. On the other hand, if you opt for an off-grid solar system, your solar equipment can be your primary power source.
Considering the technicalities involved in installing solar equipment at home, it’d be best to seek the services and consult specialists such as Smart Solar Energy to learn more.
- Solar Lighting
Lighting is essential in every part of the home, indoor and outdoor. However, your home uses a considerable amount of energy to light it, especially if you are using normal electricity. And the usage translates to costs that can be significantly lowered.
And among the more popular and cheap ways of lighting your home is by using solar energy. This energy option offers different lighting technologies that are readily available and range from basic to high-end designs to suit your outdoor spaces, even indoors too!
You can install solar lights on your exterior for security purposes. Moreover, you can also use solar lighting fixtures around your yard or garden to provide adequate landscape and outdoor lighting. These lights come in different designs to give your backyard a unique look that keeps your outdoor space looking beautiful while also illuminating the environment at night.
Alternatively, you can also use solar lighting fixtures for your interior. You can incorporate solar-powered lamps or lights that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. These lamps or lights range in terms of shapes, colors, designs, and sizes which means they can easily fit in with different themes and looks. Ideally, place them near the window where they can be exposed to the sun and absorb as much sunlight as possible.
- Laundry
If you have a large family, you can attest to the amount of laundry done in a week. And since washing machines and dryers tend to consume a lot of energy, it could lead to increased electricity bills. And so, you can cut costs by using an alternative which is a solar-powered washer and dryer.
When you get a solar-powered dryer, your drying process can be accelerated thanks to the improved heating. The short time used can help cut down on the electricity costs as the energy being produced is from the sun.
On the other hand, the solar-powered washer can be an alternative to the standard washer as it utilizes solar technology used in different appliances. The solar energy gotten from the sun is used to charge the battery in the washing machine, which is then used when operating the washer.
However, before getting a solar-powered dryer and washer, consider the intended purpose and the number of times you do your laundry. For instance, if you do your laundry two to three times a week and the loads range between seven to eight kilograms, then a solar-powered washer and dryer may not work well. The reason is that the amount of load and time you do your laundry may overwhelm the battery and destroy it easily. In such a case, you can opt to use both your normal electricity and the energy from the solar panel to do the laundry and reduce costs.
- Heating Your Home
Heating the interior of your home can be expensive due to the high electricity consumption. And this can become worse when the cold weather hits as the heating requires double effort making it more expensive.
To help manage the temperature inside your house, you can opt for solar air heaters. It works by using the air heated by the sun and then circulating it around the entire house with a small fan. And to achieve better results, it’s recommended to place or install solar air heaters near the room you’re trying to heat.
- Water Heating
The good news is that solar energy can also heat the water you’re using at home. In this instance, solar panels are mounted on the roof to collect sun rays which then heat the water that moves through tubing all around the home. And as opposed to normal electricity that heats the water stored in a small tank, the heated water circulates and is used in plumbing while also doubling in providing whole-house heating.
But aside from heating the water used at home, a solar water heating system can also be utilized to heat your swimming pool, should you have one. Swimming pools are a nice recreational aspect of a home that brings joy to adults and children. However, a cold pool isn’t ideal, especially when the weather changes and becomes chilly.
In addition, you can also opt for a cheaper option by adding a solar blanket that can help warm up the water in the pool. The floating blanket is a passive heating option that’s a useful source of solar energy, which works by absorbing the heat produced by the sun and transmitting it straight to the water.
- Powers Water Pumps
The home water heating systems need a pump to circulate water from the solar panels to the holding tank. And in most instances, these pumps rely on the traditional energy source, which tends to consume a lot of energy.
By choosing solar energy, you’ll get to help save the impact of energy as you can use the power generated to run the circulating pumps simultaneously. This method of powering pumps is efficient as the energy gotten from the sun can easily be stored in batteries. And the stored energy can be used to run the circulation when sunshine isn’t available, especially at night or on cloudy days.
- Powers Ventilation Fans
You can also use a solar ventilation fan and air conditioners for cooling during hot seasons. These fans offer the same value as electrical fans but use less energy, which helps you save more.
And with technological advancement reaching its peak, you can easily keep the house cool while helping lessen the pressure on your HVAC system and still save a lot on bills. And even though solar fans are a bit costly, they could offer value for money, making it a good investment.
Is Installing A Solar Power System At Home Worth It?
Solar energy remains to be one of the most reliable and efficient renewable sources of energy. And today, more and more people are encouraged to make the switch and utilize solar energy in their homes in hopes of lowering electricity bills.
Although, it’s no doubt that this can be a costly investment, requiring high initial costs for setting up the solar panels and connecting them as your energy source. However, it’s known to be cost-effective over time, allowing you to cut down on your utility bills and possibly save more than you paid for.
Hopefully, with the insights presented above, you’ll be more or less equipped with information about solar energy and how utilizing it at home can be to your advantage.