Fossil fuels are driving the global environmental crisis.
And, the electric power grid fluctuates all the time! Storms lead to power outages for days, weeks, or even months in worst case scenarios.
The use of a single power generation technique that’s barely spread out from a single power supply source makes electricity unreliable.
So…
There’s need for something more reliable.
Renewable energy is more reliable and beneficial. For instance, a single wind turbine (wind power source) can power about 1,400 houses in a single village or town.
Wind farms can be installed or built in oceans because they harbor consistent breezes for constant energy supply. The area where wind turbines are installed in oceans must be less vulnerable to severe storms to enjoy consistent energy supply.
Costa Rica is leading the world in embracing renewables over fossil fuel.
With 98% adoption of renewables in its grid, the country has almost gone green in using clean energy. However, gas-powered cars are still used in the nation.
Other benefits of green energy include:
- Diversification of power supply to reduce dependency on fossil fuels
- Generating clean energy to reduce pollution
- Jobs creation and economic development
- Renewable energy doesn’t get depleted
- Require lower maintenance than non-renewables and saves money
- Beneficial to the environment and human health
- 8 Residential Use of Renewable Energy
- Powering ventilation fans
Ventilation fans exhaust hot air in attic spaces to minimize cooling costs. Traditionally, the fans are wired into the electrical current, thwarting the need to save energy.
However, self-contained roof vent fans feature small photo-electric cell panels responsible for driving the fan motor. The cells eliminate the need to use electrical current in a residential household.
The small units mounted on roofs are ideal for cooling sheds, garages, chicken coops, or doghouses in summer. For kid’s playing area or patios, you can use standalone solar fans.
Heating swimming pools
Nothing beats time spent in a swimming pool. Swimming is exciting for kids and adults alike. The excitement when pools are opened tells it all.
However, jumping into a cold pool isn’t exciting.
A solar blanket can warm your swimming pool water to fix the issue.
A floating blanket is basically a heating device that absorbs heat from the sun for transmission into the swimming pool water.
You can also install a full-fledged solar water heating system with solar panels mounted on your rooftop. It absorbs heat from the sun for transmission into the pool water through multiple tubes integrated into the panels.
Water circulates up the solar heating panels from the pool and back, gradually heating to a higher temperature.
Outdoor lighting
Standalone lighting fixtures with small individual solar cells and rechargeable battery for power storage can offer excellent landscape lighting.
Solar power fixtures today offer adequate lighting compared to their traditional counterparts that were dim. Modern solar fixtures include powerful batteries, LED technology, and spotlighting to offer good lighting outdoors.
What’s more, they don’t require wiring connections.
During the day, the batteries receive enough charge from the solar panels to power outdoor lights throughout the night.
Large central solar panels, unlike the standalone systems, can power several outdoor lighting systems. Seasonal lighting display kits for specific events or seasons such as holidays can also use solar power.
Heating water
Solar water heaters can heat water in residential showers.
Active solar hot water systems utilize mechanical circulating pumps to allow water to circulate from storage tanks into heat collection panels on rooftops, and back.
Passive hot water systems are based on the principle of heat rising naturally to heat water in storage tanks.
Charging batteries
Solar power can charge any device that uses battery power through a photo-electric panel system.
Photo-electric solar panels are designed to convert solar power into DC current, the form batteries use. Inexpensive solar panel kits with basic features usually have ports where you can plug in pad devices, mobile phones, and laptops to charge directly.
A basic inverter can also allow you to charge all kinds of batteries because it converts DC current to 120V AC current.
On the other hand, multiple advanced solar panels can charge several batteries for power storage to power almost any 120V AC device. The systems can even power a whole household.
Cooking
Renewable energy can also power cooking.
Aluminum foil, a box, a cooking bag, a pan, Styrofoam insulation, duct tape, and a thermometer, are used to make solar cookers.
The solar-powered cookers often encompass a container lined with a shiny substance such as foil to focus the rays of the sun into the chamber for cooking.
With modern technology, you can even cook fresh vegetables or meat using direct heat from the sun. You need a solar grill to prepare tasty delicacies for your family. A good example is the Solar Kettle and SolSource grill.
However, you’d have to be sure of sunshine availability to plan a successful cookout.
Heating the Entire House
Solar power systems can also heat entire homes. However, it requires a great investment to get such a system working in your home.
The two options available are hot water solar systems and hot air solar systems.
Hot water solar systems
Hot water solar systems are the alternatives to electric water heaters in bathrooms and kitchens. Solar collection panels are part of the heating system responsible for heating water circulating through tubes integrated into the panels.
Instead of storing the water in small tanks for use in bathrooms and kitchens through plumbing fixtures, the heated water circulates around the house through pipes. It warms radiant flooring tubes or radiators across the entire house.
The system can heat your entire house and offer hot water at faucets in showers and sinks.
The heating systems use advanced solar collector panels, circulation technology and complex tanks to heat buildings and water. Although they can be deployed in residential homes, they’re often used in businesses.
Hot air solar systems
House heating systems can also use hot air instead of liquids such as water to circulate warmth around the entire house.
Heated air is collected from exposed walls or roofs for circulation across your entire home. As an example, air channels can be built into clay roof tiles to promote air circulation.
Siding surfaces or roofs absorb heat to further reheat the collected air. A circulating fan is used for warm air distribution across the house. It’s more of a complex version of the traditional sunroom.
Hot air solar systems are only meant to heat single rooms as in the case of sunrooms.
DC-AC Power Conversion to Power Electronics and Appliances
When charging large or multiple batteries with solar systems, an advanced inverter can be used to convert the DC power to AC. The AC can be used to power various home electronics and appliances as follows:
- Television sets
- Washing and drying machines
- Laptops and computers
- Refrigerators
- Ovens
- Cookers, etc.
Renewable energy also finds use in commercial sector. It’s the future of the energy industry.
