If you have grown tired of always having high energy bills and having the power go out during storms, you may be considering making the move to solar energy. But like many people, you may think it is not only complicated to do so, but that you won’t be able to use solar energy to power many things you use on a daily basis. However, that’s not the case at all.
In fact, you may be surprised at just how many of the electrical appliances and systems we all rely on can be easily equipped to function on solar energy. If you’re curious about what you can power with a little help from the sun’s rays, here are some things that are easily powered by solar energy for you to ponder.
Swimming Pool
You likely don’t set out to complete a polar bear challenge every time you want to use your swimming pool. However, at the start of the season, it can absolutely feel like that’s the sole purpose of the pool.
If you hate jumping into your swimming pool when the water is as cold as ice, you can heat it up to a more palatable temperature with a solar-powered system. From the solar panels that are installed on your roof, energy is converted back to heat and is transferred to the water by a series of tubes. As the water circulates, its overall temperature increases. As with most solar power applications, regulating the temperature of your swimming pool is far less costly when you’re using the natural energy in the sun’s rays than using the grid.
Water Heater
Rather than rely on a water heater that is powered by gas or electricity, you can instead invest in a solar-powered water heater. Just like your swimming pool, the water heater will rely on heat gathered from solar panels installed on your home’s roof. In many situations, indirect circulation systems are used, which transfer solar energy from a heat exchanger to the water, making sure you always have hot water when it is needed.
Laptop Computer
Yes, that laptop computer you use for anything and everything in today’s world can actually be powered by solar energy. In fact, you can not only power your laptop with only one 100-watt solar panel but also plenty of other electronic devices, including your cellphone and the home Wi-fi router.
Outdoor Lighting
If you have a driveway, patio, or another area where you would love to have more light after dark, you can rely on solar panels to come to the rescue.
Instead of trying to have lighting systems installed that require electrical wiring underground or elsewhere — which may require you to rip up your lawn or the walls of your home and then put everything back when the new wiring is in — you can have solar lights installed.
These are lights that have self-contained solar panels which let them store the sun’s energy during the day, then use it at night. Best of all, much of this lighting is relatively inexpensive, making it an even more attractive option for the energy-cost-conscious homeowner.
Now that you know just some of the many things you can power with solar energy, you may want to invest in some solar panels for your home’s roof and say goodbye to the grid.
