The global spike in energy costs has led many to find alternative and more sustainable fuel sources. And currently, there are many options available today, including wind, solar, and hydropower.
Solar is the fastest-growing of the three, and almost everyone can learn to capture its power to perform tasks like cooking, lighting, heating, and many other household chores.
Two key reasons many invest in harnessing the sun are to get energy for heating water in homes and generating electricity.
By definition, solar energy is energy derived from the sun. The energy can be used directly to heat and light homes or converted into electricity using solar energy technologies like solar panels.
People are increasingly investing in solar energy to save on out-of-pocket costs and eliminate dangerous and expensive power lines.
Solar energy, i.e., energy from the sun, provides a consistent and steady source of solar power throughout the year. As our non-renewable resources are set to decline in the years to come, we need to move towards renewable sources of energy like wind, hydropower, biomass, and tidal.
The main benefit of solar energy is that both home and business users can easily deploy it as it does not require any huge setup, like in the case of wind or geothermal power.
Solar energy benefits not only individual owners but also the environment. Solar energy is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources.
Learn more about solar energy:
- Disadvantages of solar energy
- How Can Your Business Benefit From Commercial Solar Panels?
- Facts about solar energy
- DIY – Solar panel cooker
- Difference Between Active and Passive Solar Systems
- How solar energy works?
- How to build a solar power panel
- How solar power panels work?
- What are Solar Energy and Solar Panels?
- 4 Surprising Signs Solar Panels Are Right For You
I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.
~ Thomas Edison
Various Advantages of Solar Energy
There are many advantages that solar energy has to offer over traditional sources of energy like coal and oil.
Here are some of the advantages of solar energy.
1. It’s a Renewable Resource
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy as it can be used to produce electricity as long as the sun exists. Sunshine occurs naturally. As long as we are alive, we will always see the sun, which is infinite.
This energy can be harnessed by installing solar panels that can reduce our dependence on other countries for a consistent coal supply to produce electricity. This makes it an attractive energy prospect for most countries looking to go completely green in the future.
Although solar energy can not be produced during the night and cloudy days, it can be used repeatedly during the day. Solar energy from the sun is a consistent and constant power source and can be used to harness power even in remote locations.
2. It’s Eco-friendly
If you are scavenging the internet in search of ways to minimize your carbon footprints, solar energy is the surefire answer.
Embracing solar power lets you decrease your carbon footprint and size your systems to achieve a carbon-neutral living environment.
Some states in the U.S. even allow individuals to invest in other people’s roofs to create a lot more solar energy.
Solar energy is an alternative to fossil fuels as it is a non-polluting, clean, reliable, and renewable energy source. It does not pollute the air by releasing harmful gases like carbon, nitrogen, or sulfur oxides.
So, the risk of damage to the environment is reduced. Solar energy also does not require any fuel to produce electricity and thus avoids the problem of transportation of fuel or storage of radioactive waste.
3. Cuts Back on Electricity Bill
One of the most exciting things about solar energy is that it can help you minimize your annoying utility bills. You can accomplish this by installing solar panels in your home.
Solar energy takes up energy-consuming activities like heating water and heating homes and can save you up to 20% of your energy costs, even after financing costs are factored in.
And with the ever-rocketing electricity costs, you could save up to $60,000 in the next 30 years.
4. Can Enhance the Value of a Home
If you want to sell your home in the future, know that installing solar technologies can significantly increase its value.
This especially manifests in areas where buyers are likelier to buy a home with solar panels, like highly populated cities where the authorities take environmental degradation seriously.
According to research findings, solar panels can add up to $20,000 to the value of a house. This figure represents the amount required to install a solar panel, which means you can recoup your money when you sell the property. That represents a bright investment in your property.
5. Requires Little Maintenance
The cost of installing a solar panel can be high. However, once it’s up and running, you will enjoy the benefits for many years while injecting just a small amount for maintenance.
It will be much easier if your energy needs change and you want to add more panels. The initial cost incurred once can be recovered in the long run, ranging from 10 to 15 years.
Plus, solar panels do not create any noise or release toxic substances.
6. Easy Installation
Solar panels are easy to install and do not require any wires, cords, or power sources.
Unlike wind and geothermal power stations, which require them to be tied with drilling machines, solar panels do not require them and can be installed on the rooftops, which means no new space is needed for each home or business user to generate their own electricity.
Plus, with the advancement in technology and increased production, the cost of solar panels has decreased slightly. In areas where the cost of electricity is high, payback times can be even lower.
7. Can Be Used in Remote Locations
Solar energy can be a great boon in areas without access to power grids. It works great in remote locations where running power lines would be difficult or costly. Solar panels can be set up to produce solar energy there as long as the target area receives sunlight.
8. Comes With Money Back Guarantee
Besides saving up a lot on your utility bills, you might get a big portion of your money back by installing solar panels. Most governments give tax credits to homeowners in a bid to encourage the use of solar energy.
These tax credits mostly cover more than 30% of the installation cost. Lots of states also extend tax rebates to homeowners that utilize solar energy. To add to that, if your solar panel generates more than enough energy, utility companies allow you to sell back the energy to them.
9. Long-Lasting Solar Cells
Solar cells make no noise, and there are no moving parts in solar cells, making them long-lasting and easier to maintain. Solar energy provides cost-effective solutions to energy problems where there is no electricity at all.
Top 5 Common Examples of Solar Energy
Solar energy is growing fast, and more people are harnessing this free and renewable resource. Its efficiency also continues to increase, making it more attractive to businesses and industries.
Some common examples of solar energy include:
1. Solar Water Heating
Many are unaware that solar water and space heaters are cost-effective and efficient ways of heating homes without having to go the expensive route of installing solar panels.
Solar space heaters capture the sun’s energy and turn it into thermal energy using air or liquid medium. On the other hand, solar water heaters use water as a thermal transfer.
Solar heating systems come as active or passive. Active systems use pumps to allow water movement, generating heat. Passive systems, on the other hand, use natural circulation.
One aspect that makes thermal heating systems stand above other heating systems like oil and gas pumps is the capability to heat an entire swimming pool at an insanely inexpensive rate.
2. Solar Cells
Solar cells power many things, ranging from calculators to entire businesses. Although small cells have been used to power tiny things like calculators over the years, the past few years have witnessed large cells making inroads into the marketplace. Large cells can power entire homes.
They are cool sources of energy due to their friendliness to the environment. They are also long-lasting, require minimal maintenance, and are cost-effective in the long run.
3. Solar Tech
Electronics these days come with features that can enable charging using solar energy. A common example is the solar-powered charger that can charge any electronic device, from tablets to cell phones. Solar-powered flashlights also exist today that can be set just by exposure to sunlight.
As more emphasis is placed on solar energy, there is no shadow of a doubt that solar will continue to be embraced by lots of people for products that can be powered by sunlight.
The Apple smartwatch is a typical example of solar energy successfully powering an electronic device. Unlike a conventional watch, an Apple smartwatch doesn’t need to be plugged in to recharge every day.
4. Solar Lighting
Most homeowners enhance their homes’ aesthetic value and efficiency by incorporating outdoor solar lighting.
Unlike conventional exterior lighting, solar lighting does not need a sophisticated setup because the lights come with wireless technology and capture the sun’s energy during the day to alleviate the need for traditionally supplied electricity during the night.
While solar lights have not been as popular as solar panels, they are quickly catching up with smart home thermostats and LED light bulbs as energy-efficient products that can help reduce energy bills.
On top of that, solar lighting comes with many elaborate lighting arrays that can substantially enhance the outdoor appearance of any property.
And the best part? They are cheap ($20 per light) and easily obtainable at local retail shops. The low cost and ready availability aspects are the reasons for the proliferation of street lights today.
5. Rooftop Solar
Due to the huge array of gadgets available on the market today, most disregard the most vital use of solar energy, which is rooftop solar.
While solar power has many uses, including charging batteries and flying airplanes, it can also play a critical role in reducing carbon footprints and energy bills. A rooftop solar can save a homeowner thousands of dollars each year.
When exploring ways to change up to solar energy, estimate your potential solar savings and ascertain the effects investment in solar technology could have on your home finances.
Embracing tiny products and home improvement devices to enhance your home’s efficiency is a bright practice. However, installing a solar panel is the best bet to lower your energy bills and improve your carbon footprint in the long run.