8 Unique Uses of Solar Energy at Home

Over the years, many homeowners have sought various ways of saving costs and conserving energy when it comes to using electricity.

Fortunately, this has been made possible since the discovery of solar energy.

Many homes can now power their appliances and generate electricity from the sun, a major source of renewable energy.

In this article, you’ll learn detailed information about the benefits of solar energy and eight (8) remarkable ways to use solar energy at home.

 

Advantages of Using Solar Energy at Home

Cost-effective and durable

Aside from the fact that solar power is a free source of energy gotten directly from the sun, it also helps you drastically save a lot in utility bills as you no longer rely on only conventional electricity.

In addition, a solar panel system typically lasts for up to 25 to 30 years, making it a durable option for you to save money on electricity bills for decades. With solar power, you don't have to worry about power outages during harsh weather conditions like heavy rain or storm because the solar cells can withstand extreme weather conditions.

However, for you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy, ensure a reliable and experienced contractor is in charge of the installation of your solar panel.

 

Eco-friendly

Solar energy is an environmentally friendly renewable energy. Unlike other sources of energy like natural gas and fossil fuels, solar energy does not emit chemicals that can be detrimental to the environment. Therefore, it enables you to have cleaner and pollution-free air and water at home.

 

Increased property value

Having a solar system is one of the ways of improving the value of your home. It is a lucrative home improvement strategy that you can adopt if you plan to sell your home in the future.

Many homebuyers opt for energy-efficient homes to enable them to save costs in electricity bills. Therefore, a solar system can be a major selling point for your home as it has more value on the real estate market.

 

Ease of maintenance

Solar systems are quite easy to maintain. You are only required to clean the dust on the solar panels when the need arises. And you can do that a few times a year. Apart from that, it's a stable source of energy that does not require any stressful maintenance.

 

Functionality

Another unique benefit of solar energy lies in its functionality. You can use solar power for various purposes like heating, charging gadgets and appliances, cooling, cooking, and lighting up the environment.

Solar power performs virtually all the functions that a regular electricity supply performs. On this note, it is a better alternative to electrical power because it drastically helps you save money in the long run.

 

Versatility and flexibility

As long as you have access to direct sunlight or sunshine, you can always enjoy solar energy, regardless of where your home is. Therefore, being in a remote environment with little or no access to electricity cannot deprive you of having electricity or enjoying the benefits of solar energy.

 

Uses of Solar Energy at Home

1. Home and water heating system

There is no gainsaying that heating the home consumes a high amount of electricity. However, you can now comfortably heat your home with solar heaters during cold weather without worrying about paying much in electricity bills.

All you need to do is strategically place the solar heaters in your home to help you effectively heat every room.

Another good use of solar power is water heating. Homes with solar water heaters can heat water for different purposes in the house. Be it for bathing, cooking, or laundry; you can heat water effortlessly with solar heaters.

 

2. Home lighting

Home lighting is one of the most popular and cheapest ways to use solar energy at home when compared with electrical power. Homeowners now use solar-powered lighting for different purposes at home. Some of such usage include the following:

 

Solar security lighting

Homeowners usually install solar security lights around the house for security purposes. They typically install these lights at the gate, front door, fence, patio, and other external parts of the house for security reasons. Apart from security, solar lightning also help to illuminate the environment at night.

 

Garden or lawn lighting

If you have a home with a garden or lawn, you can brighten it up during the night with solar garden lights. Such lightings are unique and help to give your garden a beautiful look at night. They equally help to improve the overall aesthetics of your home.

 

Solar home décor lighting

These are solar-powered lights or lamps used to beautify the home's interior. They come in different colors, designs, shapes, and sizes. They also consume less power when compared with electrical lighting. You can install this type of lighting in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, basement, or bathroom.

 

3. Electricity generation

Solar panels come with varying electrical capacities that you can use to power your home appliances like the TV, fan, and home theater.

The width of your roof and the number of solar panels that can fit onto your roof will go a long way in determining the amount of solar power that can be generated. This is why many homeowners install their solar panels on a spacious roof or field to enable them to generate enough solar energy to power their entire house.

 

4. Swimming pool heating

If you have a luxurious home with a nice swimming pool, you can install a solar swimming pool heater in your home. It enables you to warm up your pool when the weather is a bit chilly.

Alternatively, you can go for a cheaper option by using a basic floating solar blanket to warm up the water in your pool. This blanket is another useful source of solar energy that homeowners use to keep their pools warm.

The blanket works by absorbing the heat from the sun and transferring it to the water to keep the water warm.

 

5. Cooking and laundry

Instead of spending huge amounts on electricity or gas, you can invest in a good solar cooker to prepare your meals without breaking the bank.

 

6. Solar cloth dryer

Many homes now use solar cloth dryers to dry their clothes, especially during the rainy or cold season. They have equally become a cost-effective device that helps to save money for many homes, judging by the kind of power the electric dryer consumes.

Hence, homeowners who don’t have enough space to dry their clothes after washing often use solar-powered dryers.

One fascinating thing about solar dryers is that they give the same result as drying your cloth using direct sunlight.

 

7. Solar ventilation fans and air conditioners

Using solar ventilation fans and air conditioners is the most effective way to save cooling costs, especially during hot seasons. There are now diverse solar ventilation fans available on the market to help you cool your home and make it as heat-free as possible.

Also, many free-standing solar-powered fans will give you the same value as electrical fans. However, in this case, you tend to save more money on electricity bills.

The advancement in technology has equally made the invention of solar-powered air-conditioners possible. Homeowners can effectively keep their houses cool and chilly during hot weather with solar air-conditioners.

Even though this is a more expensive alternative to the solar fan, it gives you more value for your money as you don't have to rely on electricity to use your air-conditioner.

 

8. Solar battery charging

You can use solar panels to charge storage batteries, which can be used to power every part of your home or charge your home appliances and gadgets.

The storage batteries can go a long way in helping you generate energy when there is minimal sunlight to generate solar power.

 

Wrap Up

Solar energy is one of the most efficient and reliable renewable sources of energy out there. As a result, it has become a widely used form of energy by many homeowners, especially to generate power supply. Likewise, it's a non-toxic form of energy that can be used for various reasons, as discussed in this article.

So, if you’re a homeowner who seeks additional information about solar energy uses in homes, we hope this article adequately enlightened you on how valuable and cost-effective solar energy can be for your home.