| 4 DIY Solar Power Solutions At Home |
| Written by Tim McDonald | |
| Saturday, 02 May 2009 | |
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For ages sunlight has been utilized by man. From being used in ancient temples for natural lighting to being converted to electricity for today's power hungry nations, the power of the sun has a number of uses.
For ages sunlight has been utilized by man. From being used in ancient temples for natural lighting to being converted to electricity for today's power hungry nations, the power of the sun has a number of uses. So, how can solar power be used on a smaller scale at home as clean source of energy? Basically, there are four main ways how to solar power your home: Solar Cooking: Using a solar oven is a really inexpensive and healthy way to cook food. It used to be used in poor, underdeveloped nations where electricity was not freely available. But now a lot of travelers, campers and environmentalists use it during summer as a green alternative to a conventional oven. The solar oven works where reflective material is constructed in a bowl-like shape, and concentrates the sunlight on a single point, that heats up a pot. A number of meals can be cooked in this energy saving oven, from roast chicken to soups to bread. Depending on the design, enough food can be made to feed a family of five. The disadvantage of using a solar cooker is that it can up to four times longer than a conventional oven to cook your food. But if you think that the food it cooks is healthier, cheaper (since no power is used) and it is portable, that extra time should not be such a big issue. Solar Water Heating: With a solar water heater, the advancement in technology has enabled any households and business to completely replace their traditional electric or gas geysers and hot-water cylinders. As cold water is pumped through a solar collector, the pipes absorb the sun's energy, and heat the water, which is then stored in an insulated tank for later use. Usually the water can get so hot that it has to be mixed with cold water before it can be used. Passive Solar Design: What people do not realize is how much power they consume just to heat and light their homes. And if they could just see the benefit of using natural lighting and heating from the sun, they could save a lot of power and money. Passive solar design is the strategic use of the sun's energy to heat, light and ventilate your home naturally. For example, having a home that faces the sun, that has large, low-emissivity windows, and that is built from heat-retaining materials will tend to be naturally warmer in winter. And like the Romans used the sun to light up their temples, careful placing of windows and mirrors in our homes can increase natural lighting, helping us reduce the need for electric lighting. To help regulate the temperature in your home, you could plant deciduous trees outside to shade your home from hot sunlight in summer and let sunshine through in winter. To replace your conventional ventilation system, you could install a solar attic fan or solar chimney that draws hot air out of the house, and pulls in cooler air. Electric Solar Energy: More scientifically known as photovoltaic energy, this form of solar power can be used at home as a renewable source of electricity. For a solar electric panels system to be most effective, the panels should always be facing the sun. How the system works is as sun hits the panels, the solar cells absorb the light and convert it to electricity, which is then stored in special batteries. For you to be able to use solar power in your home, it first needs to be converted from direct current into alternating current with the help of an inverter. What's great about this form of solar power is that it is relatively affordable, clean, and easy to implement at home. Furthermore, many diy fanatics have discovered how to build their own solar power systems for a fraction of what it would cost to get a commercial system installed. So that is how to solar power your home in four ways. If you just implemented one or two of these strategies, you would decrease your dependence on fossil fuels, get renewable energy tax breaks, and reduce your power consumptions and costs while helping the environment. It is not a matter of these solutions being too expensive or complicated to use, but a matter of us being willing to learn how to use them at home. The Article Author: Tim McDonald has been harnessing the sun's free energy at home since June 2008. If you want to make your own diy solar power for under $200 and reduce your power costs by as much as 80%, then try earth4energy for free - a sneak peek at the Internet's no.1 rated step-by-step solar/wind power guide. |
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