Solar energy, throughout the years, has proven its benefits in our everyday lives. This renewable energy offers not only long-term perks in the environment but also our finances as well. It is no wonder why more and more residential homes are contacting a commercial solar company in Utah to have their systems installed.
But if you can’t afford the initial expenses to go full solar yet, don’t worry. You can still harness the power of the sun with these stand-alone solar-powered devices. Let these be your temporary solace until you’re ready for a full “solar” lifestyle.
Solar Ovens
A solar oven runs entirely on solar energy. It makes use of mini-photovoltaic panels to collect heat from the sun, which you can use in cooking almost any kind of food. Being a solar-powered appliance, you can only use solar ovens outdoors—the perfect tool if you want to enjoy the environment with the entire family.
Solar ovens may cook slowly like a Crockpot. But if you want to get your food ready as fast as possible, you may opt to use a reflector. A reflector can increase a solar oven’s temperature up to 400 degrees. The higher the temperature, the faster you can cook food.
Solar Water Heater
With a set of photovoltaic panels, you can capture solar energy from the sun and utilize it to heat water. You can then use the water in your household to bathe and wash the dishes.
Solar water heaters have two types: active and passive. Active solar water heaters use pumps to circulate water from the heat collection panels on your rooftop down to your storage tank. Passive solar water heaters use the simple physics of heat naturally rising.
Many have seen this as a cost-effective alternative to a gas-fired water storage heater. Running a solar water heater costs only $175 annually. It is a lot cheaper compared to the $350 cost of the traditional heater. This is according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Solar Energy for Outdoor Lighting
If you’re staying away from using a 120-volt underground circuit wiring for your landscape illumination, then solar-powered outdoor lightings are for you. But how do you power it up at night if it needed the sun’s energy to work?
These lighting fixtures contain a small solar cell, rechargeable storage battery and LED for adequate lighting. The solar cell absorbs energy from the sun, which is then stored in the batteries. You can then use it to power the lights throughout the night.
Solar-Powered Ventilation Fans
Ventilation fans function by exhausting hot air from attic spaces and other areas. Then, this helps reduce cooling costs by saving up energy. Sounds ideal, right? However, traditional ventilation fans still make use of electricity. They still consume energy, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Meanwhile, using solar-powered devices is all about saving up energy. This means long-term cost-efficiency for you. And ventilation fans that harness the energy from the sun allows you to stay true with your goal of saving up energy.
