Solar power uses in the home

Solar power can be harnessed for a variety of uses in the home. Space heating, electricity generation, lighting and pumping water are all possible using the energy of the sun. You may heat the home using either active or passive solar energy systems and generate electricity using photovoltaic cells.

This is truly an exciting time because there are so many new products on the market, with more constantly becoming available.

Passive solar energy

Passive solar energy makes direct use of the sun's energy without the use of any additional mechanical components. Passive solar power systems can be among the easiest systems to set up in the home.

Space heating using passive solar design would include the use of a sun space or south-facing windows to directly heat a structure. This direct solar energy could also be used to heat a thermal mass which is designed to soak up the sun's rays and release the heat later as radiant heat.

Thermal mass may be located within the structure in the form of water tanks or masonry objects disguised as furniture or structural elements. Solar water heaters that move the water through a solar collector using a thermo siphon process are also considered to be passive devices.

Solar cookers, because they use the direct rays of the sun to cook food, are also considered to be passive solar devices.

Active solar energy

Active solar energy systems employ a mechanical component to transfer the solar energy from the collector to the place it is to be used. Liquids will be moved by an electric water pump, which may also be solar powered, from the solar collector to the area in the home it is needed. Air warmed by a solar collector can be forced into the home for space heating.

Active solar systems, because of the use of pumps or fans, can be more complex. These systems tend to be more expensive to install and require a bit more maintenance.

Solar electricity generation

Electricity is generated from sunlight using a device called a photovoltaic cell. Typically a photovoltaic cell array is placed on a dwellings roof where the sunlight strikes it. The light is converted into Direct Current (DC), which must be converted to Alternating Current (AC) before it can be used in a home electric system.

An inverter is used to convert DC to AC power. During sunny periods, excess solar generated electricity may be stored in a bank of batteries, or sold to the electric company.

Space heating

Space heating in a home using solar power may use either active or passive systems. A sunroom on the south side of a home will provide plenty of heat for the average home on a sunny winter day. Large south facing windows will perform the same function.

\Thermal mass placed in a sunroom, such as masonry block or brick or a water tank will collect heat during the daytime hours and disperse it at night after the sun sets.

Active systems can use a solar collector to heat water or other fluid to use in a radiant heating system, or to transfer the collected solar heat to a thermal mass for storage for later use. Air can be heated in a solar collector and moved with a fan to heat a living space or to heat a thermal mass which will radiate the stored heat after the sun sets.

Water heating

A solar water heater can either be active or passive. In an active system water is pumped through the solar collector and stored in a tank for use. A heat exchanger will transfer the heat to the water in the tank if an antifreeze solution is used in the system to prevent piping from freezing during cold weather.

In a passive system the collector must be located below the storage tank so the heated water will rise naturally by a thermo siphon process from the collector to the tank, and flow down again as it cools.

Outdoor lighting

Solar lighting for outdoor areas of the home are powered by photovoltaic cells. There are many different solar lighting systems available. Typically these solar lights collect the sun's energy throughout the day and store the electricity in a battery.

As light levels drop, a photocell turns the light on, which burns until the power in the battery is exhausted. Lighting systems include floodlights, area lights, path lights, and accent lights.

Pumping water

Solar power may also be employed to pump water for either decorative fountains or use in the home or garden. The pumps can be run using a solar array or a battery. Solar cells may be used to charge the batteries, which may then power the pump during cloudy days, or at night.

Improving technology

Solar power is becoming easier to use in the home thanks to improving technology and the new products it spawns. Using the energy of the sun is both eco-friendly and smart. It can also save you money, so it may be a sound investment for you to make in your home.