Solar Power for Home

Light emitted from the sun can be used in a variety of different ways to produce usable energy. A few options include:

  • simply using the sun to help regulate home temperature (passive solar energy)
  • with the help of mirrors, thermal solar collectors can amplify the heat of the sun and pass it on to water or other substances
  • the light emitted by the sun can be converted into electricity with photovoltaic cells

Passive Solar Power: this simply refers to taking advantage of and controlling the heat and light displaced by the sun. When done properly and effectively, this can have a great impact on your monthly utility bills. Some easy things that can be done to ensure your home makes the most of the passive power of the sun:

  • Insulation! This is probably the most important step in taking advantage of passive solar energy. Make sure that your walls, ceilings, and floors are appropriately insulated. Also check around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Proper insulation in a house should result in an inside temperature that stays relatively constant
  • As mentioned in the “energy saving tips” section of the home page, curtains are another effective way of keeping warm air in or cold air out. Along these lines, clear insulating window covers or shutters also play a strong role in maintaining inside temperature.
  • Strategically placed vegetation, both inside and outside can help prevent heat from entering your home. When placed around windows or door ways, plants serve as a sort of heat barrier and can surprisingly keep a house quite cool in the summer. In addition to this, plants also provide fresh air, which is a nice thing to have!

Solar Power to Heat Water: since the sun is the hottest thing around, it makes sense to use its tremendous temperature output to heat your home. By concentrating this heat output, one can easily warm water or a space (temperatures can reach up to boiling point!).

A common device that is used to heat up water or air is known as a “thermal collector”. This device is basically a glass covered panel that holds metal plates (usually dark). These plates absorb the heat, and in turn transfer it to the substance that is to be heated. The heated substance (water, air, etc) can either be used immediately or be collected in a well insulated storage tank for later use.

Finally, light energy from the sun can be converted to electricity using photovoltaic panels. This topic is quite extensive, so it has its own page dedicated to it. To read on, check out DIY Solar Panel

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