10+ ways YOU can harness solar energy!

Harnessing Solar Energy!

The sun could power the planet for an entire year with the amount of energy it produces every hour. How can we begin to take advantage of solar energy to benefit ourselves & the environment around us? I'm happy to provide you with 11 amazing & affordable ways that you can use to harness solar energy! 

11 - Solar Light Tubes.

Solar light-tubes are a great way to bring day-light into your home in an effective & innovative way. A clear dome let's light through a reflective tunnel that amplifies it & directs it to the room below. 

Efficiency : 4/5 Cost : $200-600 Return : 5-7 years.

10 - Skylights.

Skylights are an ideal way to bring in the day-light for a single story home, or on the top-floor, since they're a direct window to the outside world. They're extremely simple & functional, a glass or Plexiglas dome is installed into your roof, and you benefit from natural lighting (plus bonus stargazing!). 

Efficiency : 3/5 Cost : $650-3000 Return : variable.

9 - Install Awnings & Blinds.

Sometimes the sun can produce to much energy, like during the blazing hot summers. You can help reduce the heat in your house by installing awnings over your windows, and hanging up blinds in front of your windows. This will help reduce the temperature during those hot summers, and save you money on your AC!

Efficiency : 3/5 Cost : $200-$2000 Return : 1-4 years.

8 - Clothesline.

Using the sun to dry your clothes by hanging them in direct sunlight is the simplest, and most affordable way to take advantage of solar. 

Efficiency : 5/5 Cost : $5-10 Return : Instantly

7 - Apply Low-e Window Film.

Low-e window film will let light, but not much else into your house. This amazing film reflects 90% or more of the heat, allowing you to keep your house cool, without blocking out the natural light!

Efficiency : 4/5 Cost : $8 sq. ft. Return : 2-3 years.

Thinking of more methods...

What is Solar Energy?

So what exactly is solar energy?

Solar energy is the cleanest & most available form of renewable energy! Solar is derived from the sun's radiation using photovoltaic technology, or more commonly known as solar panels. The sun is an extremely powerful source of energy, it provides the earth with the same amount of energy we collectively use in an entire year in just a single hour. It's important that we continue to harness power of the sun (and other renewable energy sources) since it will help preserve our rapidly decreasing resources.

The annual need for global electricity is on a constant rise, with the rapid production of technology, and ever-growing population. Solar provides a solution for the demand of energy, through the power of the sun. Technology has drastically improved since solar first hit the market in 1976, and prices are 99% lower than they originally were. Where will the future of solar energy take us?

What are photovoltaics?

Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electricity by converting solar radiation into electricity. Solar cells are composed of photovoltaic material, which are than used to construct a solar panel. Materials currently used for creating photovoltaic material are : mono-crystalline silicon, poly-crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide. Thanks to the increasing demand for solar energy, the cost has dramatically gone down over the last 20 years.