Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
As Americans discover how affordable and accessible solar energy is, its use is growing quickly across the country. According to the US Department of Energy, there are now enough solar energy devices installed to power 12 million homes.
If you’ve been considering adding solar energy to your home, there’s no better time than now. Keep reading to discover the common uses of solar energy in and around the home.
In This Post:
1. Solar Lighting
If you’re wondering how to use solar energy but want to start small, consider solar lighting.
The most popular type of solar lighting is outdoor lights. These can include landscaping lights placed near pathways or motion detected lights placed above doorways.
The beauty of solar outdoor lights is that you don’t have to worry about changing batteries or providing an energy source. Since the lights are placed outside, they’ll collect and store solar energy throughout the day. Then at night, they’ll shine brightly all on their own.
2. Solar Water Heaters
If you’re looking for a bigger way to take advantage of solar power, consider a solar water heater.
A typical 50-gallon water heater can cost around $780 to operate each year. Or, you can install a solar water heater with an upfront cost and save money and energy after a few years.
There are two types of solar water heaters, active and passive, so you’ll need to do a little research before investing. An active solar water heater uses pumps to move the water through the system, meaning these can still use a little bit of electricity. A passive solar water heater uses gravity to move the water and requires no electricity.
3. Power the Whole House
Like the idea of taking advantage of multiple uses of solar power? If so, consider switching your whole house to solar energy.
By installing solar panels, this technology will transform all collected sunlight into electricity. Then, this electricity can be used to power everything in your home — from the dryer to the television. While the upfront costs can be expensive, you’ll quickly get a return on investment when you aren’t paying an electricity bill each month.
If you’re interested in powering your whole house with solar energy, reach out to a company like Blue Raven Solar. A professional solar company can explain the process, see if your home is a good candidate, and give you a cost estimate.
Take Advantage of These Uses of Solar Energy
Now that you know the uses of solar energy for your home, it’s time to install solar energy devices to start saving the money and the planet.
If you’re unsure about how easy solar energy is to use, start small by powering a few outdoor lights. Once you get a hang of it, you can move on to powering your water heater. And when you feel like making a big difference, convert your whole home to solar energy.
Looking for more ways to improve your home beyond solar energy? Be sure to browse the article archives of this site for all the best home advice.
