Solar Energy For the Home

As heating, fuel and electricity prices constantly increase, Solar Energy is starting to gain popularity as one of the alternative sources of power for the future. Also, the increasing ill effects of the burning of fossil fuels on the environment have steeped up interest in this alternative technology.

However, some sectors, (people, corporations and even governments who have vested interests in the use of fossil fuels) insist that solar and other alternative energy sources are not viable methods of generating energy. This is untrue, but it is obvious why they insist on this, even in the face of increasing awareness on the adverse effects of burning fossil fuels.

The truth is solar energy, even at its current costs, could be the most cost efficient and effective form of power generation, especially for most of the world's population who are still without power today. It would allow people to improve their living standards, without having a negative impact on the ecology.

What are the different solar energy applications we can use in our homes?


Solar Panel System

A simple step we can take is to install a basic Solar Panel System (see videos) in our homes. Blueprints, instructions,diagrams and other information on the subject are widely available that will help in building a safe, reliable and efficient solar power system that will generate a large percentage of our energy needs.

In most of today's solar energy systems, you can either store excess energy produced into a battery system for use at night, or on not-so-sunny days. Also, today's solar panels actually don't need that much sunlight to function properly.

In some countries, you can even sell back any excess electricity generated by the solar energy system. That means that your utility company will be paying you rather than you paying them.

Even in not-so-ideal conditions, you can expect to save at least 40% off your monthly power bill even if you choose to only install a very small solar panel system.

Other solar technology we can use for the home are:


Solar Pumps.

The motors of these pumps are powered by small solar panels. You can use these pumps in fish tanks, in fountains for your garden, or on small irrigation systems. Click Here For Videos.


Solar Garden Lights.

These are self-contained solar lights that can be placed anywhere in your garden. They have their own solar panels and batteries. During the day, they charge their batteries, while at night, they provide a soft romantic glow to your landscape.


Solar Christmas Lights.

Yes, now, there are Christmas lights running on batteries charged by solar panels.
These lights use L.E.D (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs that have very low electric consumption, and would not adversely exhaust your batteries. These L.E.D. lights also give off a unique bright glow.


Solar Water Heaters

These do not use solar panels, but they use glass or other heat conducting materials to heat water using solar power. The heated water then can be collected in an insulated tank for further use.
Click Here For Videos.

Solar Water Heaters can easily be made from simple materials like glass, wood and plastics. In fact, there was a man in Hong Kong who made his own water heater using discarded beer bottles.


Solar Cookers

These have been in use for sometime by campers, soldiers, and even people in far-away sun-scorched locations such as Africa.

There are several kind of solar cookers being used. Some look and function like ovens. Some popular types have a parabolic shape which concentrate the sun's rays into a focal point where the food is then placed. This could be an interesting cooking tool in areas where sunlight is abundant, and there is a scarcity of fuel. Click Here For Videos.


Solar Chargers

There is now an increasing number of solar chargers being available in the market. Some can be used to charge penlight batteries, some can charge cellphones, and there are some that can be used to charge a laptop computer.

This will be a hit among people on the go, who may need to recharge their gadgets but there is no electric outlet nearby.

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More solar technologies are constantly being developed and produced. These products are being introduced at more and more affordable costs. If only governments, corporations and industries would support and promote these technologies, then products could be made more affordable to the ordinary individual.

Take the case of mobile phones. Years ago, mobile phones were crude and expensive. But now, billions of them are being manufactured and almost everybody on the planet has one.

Must we wait for the environmental situation to worsen and affect us adversely before we adopt a decisive clean energy alternative?

We must aggressively take steps now. Governments, corporations and other agencies implementing economic and technological reforms should have the political will to support this. This should be done, now, before it is too late.

As a saying goes, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

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Helpful Guides and References

1) Earth4Energy - Diy Solar And Wind Power

2) Home Made Energy

3) Green DIY Energy Solar &Wind Guide

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