With the depleting sources to generate energy and power and its increasing demands in the new millennium, a break-through can be brought in only by using some natural resource that can help produce energy without the incurring of high costs. What better option can we think of than using solar power or sun’s rays, in simple words, for generating energy. Installing a solar power system can make a hole in any individual’s pocket, however, we can use solar power in simple ways not only to cut down on our heating bills, but also to save our planet and mother earth.
Solar energy provides affordable electricity to the isolated class, especially the rural groups light up homes, streets, schools and hospitals.This system enables the charging of batteries using sun’s rays during day time to provide hours of bright light, to get rid of darkness, at night. However, with the growing demand and consciousness of switching to this form of energy, available almost free of cost, even the urban class is getting attracted towards it and is making considerable use of the same to run computers, refrigerators and other electrical equipment, thus enabling and opting for cost-cutting methods to save on sky-rocketing electric bills.
Not only does solar power provide a natural source of energy, also,while generating electricity, these solar panels emit an almost inconsiderable amount of pollution, thus making it environmental friendly as well. Lets discuss 5 simple ways in which we can use solar energy in our homes:
1. Solar indoor and outdoor lights
Burning the regular lights to lighten up floor lamps, desk lamps, drive-ways and gardens can prove to be very heavy on our pockets. However, solar indoor and outdoor lights, being eco-friendly and highly sustainable, can prove to be very crucial and inevitable, not just to save us from spending a big share of our monthly income on heating bills, but also as a good alternative for the world as a whole where energy sources are depleting minute by minute.
The solar cells, located at the top of these solar lights, gather and store energy from the sun during the day in small batteries in-built in them, at night, it is these lights which impart power to the lights which in turn brighten up our homes. Solar powered floodlights are also available in the market since these have been introduced as recent advancements in this field.
2. Passive heat storage tubes
Innovative greenhouse fiberglass tubes can now help you cut down drastically on your utility bills. These appear as pillars which are hollow from inside and which can be used as room dividers and attractive accents. All you have to do is fill them with water and place them at an angle where they are exposed to bright light, enabling them to grasp and store energy from the sun to fill the room with heat and light later on, when required.
3. Solar chargers for electronics
Your heating bills shoot up, to a great extent, on account of charging mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players and other such electronic gadgets. Now think twice before making a fool of yourself as you can do them almost free of cost. Using solar powered chargers can do the needful, as these chargers charge internal batteries in cell phones or C, D, AA and AAA batteries for use in other electronic devices. These recharges are available in different size cords to be used with different items.
4. Solar Water heater
Hot water is an all time requirement for household activities, especially in cold countries and winter months. However, a solar powered water heater system, installed for generating hot water, can be really fruitful as it is an all-climate friendly device which uses fuel that is available free of cost to run it. These systems include solar collectors and storage tanks as its key equipment. There are two varieties in this category, viz an active one which has circulating pumps and controls and a passive one which does not have these features. However, for both the types, the insulated storage tank and the solar collector should be well connected to each other to work properly and without and hindrances.
5. Pools and Hot tubs
For energy efficient and power saving methods, we can use solar energy to heat water for swimming pools and water tubs as well. Special solar power units have been innovated and designed which assist the gas or electric heating units to save on heating bills. However, the older models might not have the facility attached for a built-in solar energy system, in order to convert these existing heaters into a solar-friendly one you can purchase solar power kits available in pool supply stores to assist and enable energy to be gathered using solar power system. Solar powered skimmers are also present in the market to help clean your pool and spa.
Let us sum up by saying that solar energy, being the natural way of extracting power using sun’s resources, is assisting in altering and improving lives of thousands across the globe most economically, without putting a burden on them.
