Generating solar power for home use is one way that concerned homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint – and save money. There is a constant supply of solar energy, renewed every day, and generating solar power for home use helps to reduce the environmental damage from fossil fuel use. Many people are interested in generating solar power at home, but are concerned that solar power solutions are expensive and awkward. In actual fact, generating solar power for home use is neither difficult nor expensive. In addition, you will reap the financial benefits as the solar power solutions cut down your power bills. And, of course, future generations will appreciate the cleaner, greener environment.
There are a number of ways to harness solar power for home use.
Solar Cooker
A solar cooker will cook food using only solar power, with no need for any other fuel. Using the suns’ energy, the average solar cooker can cook for up to five people. You might think that a solar cooker would limit the range of foods you can serve, but in actual fact, a wide variety is possible. There is more available than simply boining food – the solar cooker will also bake and roast! One possible limitation is the length of time it takes to cook food in a solar cooker – you do need to plan well ahead. However, because a solar cooker costs nothing to run, it is a viable option to rein in those ever-increasing energy bills.
Solar Home Lighting
Solar home lighting is a popular form of solar power for homes, using solar power to generate electricity, which then powers the lights in your home. Solar cells are use to generate solar power for home use; they become electrically charged after absorbing solar radiation. The power stored in the solar cells can then power the lights in the house at night. Once you have installed your solar home lighting system, you need never worry about electricity bills for your lighting.
Solar Heating System
Having your own solar heating system will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it will also reduce the drain on your wallet from those ever-increasing utility bills. Some people have worried that a solar heating system may turn their family home into a cluttered, techno-looking gadget house, or that it would be an expensive investment, but they have found that their concerns were misplaced. Companies providing solar power solutions for homes make it a point to install aesthetically-pleasing heating systems in your home.
When it comes to cost, a solar heating system is an investment, which pays for itself within 3-4 years, and after that you enjoy completely free power for life.
Home Solar Panels
Making your own solar panels is a great way to reduce the cost of coverting to solar power to a fraction of the cost of a commercial installation. The parts you need to make solar panels can be purchased at any hardware store, and assembling the panels is a relatively simple home handyman task.
Get the Alternative Energy Savers complete guide to solar power for home use.
Karl Bailey is a staff writer for AlternativeEnergySavers.com, and contributes regularly to other publications. This article is part of his series on solar homes.
