The latest estimates claim that the US will pass four million solar panel installations in 2023. Considering solar panels only started taking off a few decades ago, these are huge strides.
When you think of a residential solar power system, you likely picture it powering your lights, appliances, and HVAC system. However, there are tons of uses for solar power. Here are three uses for solar energy you may not have considered before.
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Water Heating
Did you know that there are solar space heaters and water heaters? These heating systems warm up water for use at home by absorbing heat from the sun.
You can also use solar power to heat swimming pools or cool down the water in hot climates. It’s more cost-effective to heat your pool using solar power than with oil or gas pumps.
Heating systems can be either active or passive. Active systems circulate water using pumps to create heat. Passive systems rely on natural circulation.
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Underfloor Radiant Heating
Not only can you heat pools, but you can also heat your home with solar power. Underfloor radiant heating moves heat to the floor of a home using infrared radiation. Hydronic (liquid) systems can use solar power to power radiant heating.
You can also pair solar space heaters with a forced hot air system to keep your home warm.
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Exterior Lighting
Not only can you power the inside of your home, but you can power your exterior lighting as well. You can often find solar-powered lights in home improvement stores as they’re often used in landscaping. This is one of the more common uses for solar energy, and it helps you save on your electric bill.
Another advantage of using solar lights outside is that you can place them almost anywhere. It’s easy to light up your porch or deck, your garden, water features, and more.
If you’re ready to make the switch, take a look at some solar providers near you to go over your options.
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Powering Electronics
We can now use energy from the sun to power our favorite electronic devices like our cell phones, tablets, radios, flashlights, wearable tech, and more.
There are portable solar-powered chargers for your electronics that you can take with you camping, hiking, attending outdoor events, and more. These ultra-thin solar charging panels have enough capacity to power your smartphones and tablets. You’ll never have to worry about finding an outlet or source of electricity again.
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Solar Transporation
Have you ever thought about busses, trains, cars, aircraft, or even roads being powered by the sun? Solar transit is in our future.
For example, Solar Impulse 2 is the first aircraft to take a flight around the world. That’s 25,000 miles around the globe without a single drop of liquid fuel!
Discover More Uses for Solar Energy
There really are no limits when it comes to what we can do with the power of the sun. As research and trials continue, we’ll discover more uses for solar energy. If you want to be a part of a greener future, invest in solar for yourself!
Take a look at some of our other sections to learn more about going solar, technology, business, and more.