Solar Power, So Many Uses

By Jeff Dempsey

One year of earth's energy requirement could be taken care of with an hour's worth of energy from the sun. Solar energy is clean, sustainable, and best of all free, after you set it up, that is! Below I've listed out the different ways to use the sun as an energy source.

Homes with Grid Tied Systems

Solar power can be used hand in hand with your current electricity provider. This is ideal to those who live in places where sunlight does not shine year round, to those who live in areas where electricity is cheap and to those who just want to use solar energy as a backup to their existing source of power. The idea is that if you have 2 sources of power, you can get uninterrupted power supply all the time.

One of the benefits of having a grid-tied solar energy system at home is that you can turn your electric meter backwards. This happens when you produce more energy than you use. The excess power that your system generates is sent out to the grid, which will be used by other households. As a result, your electric meter turns backwards and your electric provider will pay you for the amount of energy your system has produced.

You can also isolate your solar energy to power specific devices around your home. For instance, many people power all the lights around the perimeter of their homes with solar panels. This makes sense because often times these lights will consume as much as 5 times more energy than the average household's daily energy requirement.

Many times, a solar power system may not be used to fulfill a households entire energy needs. Often it is only used to power particular items such as lighting, water heating, cooking, or water pumps.

Corporate Solar Power Setup

To save money on constantly rising energy costs, many businesses are moving towards installing pv systems in their atria, or on the rooftops of large buildings. The initial costs can be high but will often pay for itself over the coming years, and solar power requires very little maintenance.

How to Use Solar Power in Off-Grid Homes

Solar panels might be a perfect solution for you if you have a cabin or farmhouse located away from any power source or power line. It may be ideal for you if you need to power stand alone devices such as water pumps, and remote telemetry. Holiday homes that receive enough sunlight are also great prospects for solar power.

Outbuildings such as workshops, sheds, and barns, that are not connected to any power lines can also use solar power generators as well.

Using Solar Power for Signs and Street Lights.

Lights used to brighten up our cities streets consume a huge amount of power, and many communities around the world are deciding to introduce solar powered streetlights and efficient L.E.D. Lighting configurations. This saves a significant amount of money after the initial investment and it is reducing the demand for dirty energy that is polluting our planet and damaging our health.

Solar power and green energy is becoming the norm more and more with each passing day. Every little thing helps, so get started today, and do your part to heal our planet!

About the Author:

0 comments:

Guides Complete