Think solar energy only helps you reduce how much electricity you use? Think again! Here are 7 ways you can use solar to stop climate change that probably never occurred to you, with help from the solar experts at ExpertSure.com.
Big Bonus: Because you’ll use less energy from your utility, you could save $100 or more a year on electricity and gas bills, too.
1)Water Heating
Solar water heaters can provide homes with hot water for showering, laundry and other household needs. Solar systems are also being used more and more to heat swimming pools. If you live in a climate that’s warm many months of the year, you can install an outdoor shower with a solar water heater attached.
Here’s a great overview of solar hot water technology from the U.S. Department of Energy.
2)Underfloor Heating Systems
Radiant floor heating makes a room warm and cozy and a lot more comfortable if you’re walking with bare feet or sitting on the floor. The radiant system can easily be powered by photovoltaic solar panels on your roof.
The same type of system can also be connected to a greenhouse in order to regulate the air temperature inside, which is vital for maintaining the health and vitality of your plants.
3)Space Heating
The average American family spends over $2,000 a year in heating costs. But in addition to the money, the energy to provide that heat usually comes from fossil fuels, like coal, oil and propane.
Heating your home with a solar heating system can reduce your heating bills and shrink your carbon footprint significantly.
Here’s a good explanation of how solar works to provide heat.
4)Natural Solar Lighting
The cheapest, most natural way to illuminate a home is with the sun. You’ll get the most solar gain with windows on the south and east sides of your home, something to keep in mind if you’re building anew.
Even without solar panels on the roof, you can use lights fitted with small photovoltaics to power individual fixtures.
Many gardens now feature LED lights that are solely solar powered; they charge during the day, and emit light all night.
The same goes for security lights that come with PVs on top of their LED bulbs.
Solar lighting can be a great fit for not only off-grid and remote locations, but also for the urban gardener and hobby farmer.
5)Ventilation and Air Circulation
Having the proper amount of ventilation for fresh air intake and hot air exhaust is important in any home. Solar energy can be used to power and automate those systems.
The simplest versions use the heat of the sun to open a vent, which then draws warm out via natural convection.
More extensive ventilation systems use an exhaust fan, which can be powered directly by the sun or through a thermostat, maintaining a constant airflow.
6)Charge Your Electric Vehicle
You can use panels of photovoltaic cells to create electricity to power your car. That’s true whether you have an all electric vehicle like the Chevy Bolt or Tesla, or a plug-in hybrid like the Ford Fusion.
7)Power an Outdoor Fountain
Some garden fountains now come equipped with small solar panels that keep the water moving through the fountain so you don’t need to string an electric cord down to them. Note that the fountains won’t work once the sun sets, but you probably won’t be in your garden then anyway!
How else do you use solar power to reduce your carbon footprint?
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2 thoughts on “7 Unexpected Ways You Can Use Solar to Stop Climate Change”
This is great! Imagine how big of a collective difference could be made if everyone used just a couple of these tricks. I recently wrote a blog post about the environmental costs of the solar manufacturing process compared to its benefits, and it’s remarkable to see how solar compares to coal and natural gas. You can check it out here! https://blog.pickmysolar.com/how-green-are-solar-panels
You are so right, Kate. Thanks for sharing your article.
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