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Solar power’s popularity is exploding. Using the sun’s energy to generate usable electricity for households is growing by percentages that nearly reach double digits year over year. While many arel aware that the best photovoltaic solar panels and their accompanying systems are the most recognized way to harness the sun’s energy, fewer are aware that there’s a multitude of ways to do the same without having to shell out for a full solar energy electrical system.
Some ways are simple, some have even been around for thousands of years and some are slightly more complex. Whatever the case, the sun’s free energy is available for anyone who puts a small amount of effort into harnessing it, whether or not your home already uses a solar PV system for electricity.
The following are 12 ways you can put the sun to work without installing a residential solar energy system.
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1. Indoor Lighting
Energy-efficient windows and skylights offer nearly unlimited ways to let the sun into your home without largely impacting internal heating and cooling systems. When building or remodeling, ensure that you account for the sun’s trajectory in your location.
Then, strategically place skylights and windows to brighten your space and potentially reduce energy costs for lighting and even heating during daylight hours.
Pro Tip
Garages and backyard sheds are great additional places to install skylights.
2. A Water Heater
It’s always been possible to heat water using the sun. However, several water heater options are now available that streamline the process of heating tap water. They are usually split into one of two categories: active or passive.
Active water heater systems pass potable water through a solar energy collector using pumps. Pumps that run on solar-generated electricity make these systems even better. Another method is to pump the drinkable water through a heat exchanger and allow hot antifreeze fresh from the solar collector to heat it to the faucet.
Passive water heaters consist of water tanks and various components that act as solar heat collectors. These heaters rely on hot water rising above cold water to circulate potable water through the collector or heat exchanger before reaching your indoor plumbing.
3. A Home Heater
Heating your whole home with solar energy is possible and practical anywhere the sun shines. Using systems similar to heating tap water with the sun, a solar home heat system circulates water or an antifreeze liquid through solar heat collectors and heat exchangers. The heated water or antifreeze then enters the home and disperses its heat as it flows through radiators. These systems still require an electrical pump to push the water through the home’s HVAC plumbing.
4. A Pump
In any hot water home heating system, a mechanical pump is necessary to circulate hot water throughout the home. Whether your house relies on a gas or electric boiler or even a solar water home heating sytem, a solar pump can increase the system’s overall energy efficiency.
Solar water pumps are available with DC motors that often run directly off of a charge controller and battery system. Or they can include AC motors that operate off an inverter from a dedicated PV solar panel or a whole-home PV electrical system.
5. A Warm Shower
While it may sound a little silly at first, taking a shower doesn’t have to be an indoor event. Many homeowners are discovering that building a discreet outdoor space to freshen up can be a pleasant and relaxing experience. Solar showers are trendy in this space. They range in complexity from a $15 poly bag with a nozzle to a $200 multi-gallon system.
6. Solar Vents
You can use the sun to heat and light your home. But did you know you can also use it to help keep you cool? Solar vents consist of a small solar panel and a DC motor wich operates a fan that can assist your AC. But it can also run solar vents. These vents consist of a small solar panel and a DC motor which operates a small fan that can assist your AC.
These devices mount directly into your roof or gable system to regulate the attic temperature, which in turn, helps the air conditioner do its job more efficiently.
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7. Portable Electricity
A single solar panel or a small collection of them and a portable power station are all you need to take both AC and DC power anywhere you need to go. These setups store electrical energy from the sun that you can use while camping, at the beach or in the backyard, basically any place away from electrical outlets.
8. A Battery Charger
Along the same lines as a portable power station, a solar charger puts free solar energy into a battery for easy portable use in any device that accepts them. From small, flexible and packable solar PV panels to large stationary ones, a solar battery charger is available for almost any need.
9. Ovens and Stoves
Solar baking ovens and cooking stoves have been used for centuries in various forms. Today, we can use devices designed solely for this purpose. Use solar ovens and stoves for baking, making pizza or even cooking entire meals for indoor or outdoor dining while eliminating the smoke from a fire pit or grill.
10. A Swimming Pool Heater
Not only can you heat a swimming pool with energy from the sun, but you can keep it warmer longer, too. A solar pool heater works by sending pool water through a solar heat collector on its way from the pool pump and filter back to the pool. The sun’s heat is transferred to the water and, in turn, heats the rest of the pool water.
To maintain the higher temperature longer and minimize pool heater use, the best solar pool covers help trap heat underneath. As an added benefit, the covers can also reduce the time spent cleaning the pool.
11. Yard Lights
Once a novelty item of sorts, pathway solar lights are a popular and inexpensive way to boost curb appeal and offer a degree of safety between your front door and the sidewalk. Use these devices wherever the addition of an outdoor night light could be useful. Locations around patios, along walks and driveways or even as stand-alone decorations are all great options.
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12. Security Systems
Many of the best home security systems use solar power to maintain the battery in spotlights, cameras and other equipment. While small solar lights can illuminate a walkway or patio, powerful spotlights with an integrated solar panel can light up large yard or driveway sections, increasing your home’s security.
Spotlights and cameras such as these store the sun’s energy during daylight hours and convert it to usable electricity to keep the devices operating each night.