Solar power isn’t just for the future, it’s for the now. People already harness sunlight to run electronic devices and make their lives greener and cleaner. Over two million solar systems have been installed in the United States. By the end of 2018, the country had 64.2 GW of solar capacity, which is enough to run 12.3 million homes.
Solar still has room to grow as people begin to discover its benefits over fossil fuel-produced energy. It’s just as good for your bank account as it is for the environment. Once installed, a residential solar system will reduce or eliminate electricity bills. It all depends on the size of the system and your household consumption.
If you aren’t ready to invest in a full-sized rooftop solar system for your home yet, you can still participate in the sustainability movement. A team of Melbourne Electricians wants to share several ways that you can introduce solar power to your home today.
Install Solar Garden Lights
One of the easiest and most affordable things you can do is brighten your yard or garden with solar stake lights. These require no wiring. The light is attached to a stake that you can insert into the ground anywhere on your property. A solar cell positioned on top collects energy all day long then uses it to power the bulb after dark.
These are a great way to make your home safer at night. Use them to line a walkway, driveway, or path. You can also place them in darker areas in your yard for improved security. They will require a direct line of sight to the sun to recharge. Most automatically turn on after sunset.
You can also find solar-powered wall-mounted lights that can be placed on walls, posts, or fences.
Open Windows for Indoor Heat
You can use the sun to control light and climate in your home just by opening a curtain or blind. On cooler days, pull back the drapes or lift the blinds to let the sun shine in. This will generate warmth in the room and help reduce your heating and cooling costs.
Remember that you should open the curtains on windows that face the sun. This will likely change throughout the day. You can also keep rooms cooler by leaving the curtains drawn on hot days to block out the heat of the sun.
Use Solar Phone Chargers
Small charging devices are available that can power things like your phone, tablet, or other handheld devices. The charger includes a portable collector that gathers energy. Face the collector toward the sun and plug the USB cord into your device to begin charging.
These are a great tool for camping or traveling. However, you can also use them at home to reduce the amount of electricity consumed each day.
Build Garden Power Stations
You can turn sheds and other outbuildings into miniature power stations for your garden. If you aren’t ready to install a large array for your household, you can instead put panels on a small structure on your property. This can be used to supply electricity for the building. Instead of connecting to the grid, you can run lights, irrigation systems, radios, and more in your garden for free.
Solar panels do not have to be placed on rooves. They can also be installed on walls or posts with frames at ground level.
Learn About Community Solar Gardens
You can get the benefits of solar energy without the installation process by joining a community solar program. Solar gardens are large-scale arrays that can be used to power entire areas. When you join a program, a portion of the solar garden is allocated on your behalf. It generates energy that goes to your utility company and earns you credit.
The credit will offset your usage while you continue using electricity just like you always have. Your monthly expenses go down and you can feel good knowing that you’re helping the environment by choosing clean energy.
Install a Solar Water Heater
You can transition to solar energy slowly at home. One way to get started is by installing a solar water heater. These devices use a thermal panel that is usually installed on the roof or somewhere outside your home.
As the panel absorbs light, the heat is transferred to the tank through a circulating pump. The exchange occurs when the thermal regulator detects that the collector is hotter than the water inside the tank. This process improves efficiency and prevents overheating.
There are many ways that you can introduce your home to the wonders of solar power. Get started now and enjoy the benefits of energy independence.
