3 Most Common Home Solar Energy Applications

Home solar energy applications are becoming widespread in the United States. In fact, California is now the world’s third biggest market for solar technology. California and other sunny states are natural leaders for solar power in this country but even areas like New England are seeing this rise in demand.

The power of the sun has long been harnessed in agriculture and industry. Solar energy is silent, non-polluting and completely renewable. The perfect green energy source, solar power doesn’t rely on cutting down trees or burning fossil fuels so helps to reduce global warming. As technology has advanced, solar power has found many uses in our homes.

Passive solar heating and cooling concepts are being built into new home designs. Passive solar energy means that no mechanical devices are needed. Instead solar energy is captured and controlled by strategic use of high performance windows and dense materials in the floors and walls. The sun creates energy in the form of heat and the materials in the floors and walls help control the release of that heat into the air.

Small scale home solar energy applications are enabling home owners to cut costs and help the environment while keeping their investment smaller. One common use of solar power is a solar water heating system. Solar panels are installed in a sunny spot, usually the roof. These collectors heat fluid filled pipes which then heat the water held in a storage tank. This type of system can pay for itself in reduced energy costs in just a few years.

A full scale home solar power system can cost up to $40,000 for a medium size house. While this option can be a high investment, tax credits and rebate programs can cut this investment in half in many areas. Another way to reduce the cost of your system is to limit your electricity usage. By lowering the amount of electricity that you need to generate, you also reduce the size of the solar power system that you will need.

As energy costs continue to rise and people become more aware of the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the demand for home solar energy applications will keep increasing. Whether you choose passive solar techniques, solar water heating or a full power system, home solar power is a great option for saving money. You will also get the added satisfaction of knowing you are helping reduce global warming as you harness the power of the sun for your home energy needs.

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