If you haven’t guessed it as yet, energy efficiency is important to us as a company. It’s become a core value that we, not only want to underscore in the products that we manufacture and sell, but also a narrative that we’d like our customers, and the public, as a whole, to adopt.
Energy efficient products are becoming easier to acquire and are also becoming less expensive as the technologies for renewable resources get better. Solar power has been on a continual upward trend for the last few years and in this article, we’ll look at some innovative ways that we can integrate solar power into our homes.
Solar Powered Garden Lights
The easiest and least expensive of all solar powered options. Of course, while still being energy efficient, the impact on your overall energy consumption is small. Solar powered garden lights are not only attractive but also easy to replace should one break. These solar powered lights come in many different designs and can be found in almost any hardware store. They are an easy way to add light to your garden path or patio, especially in places where you don’t have electrical outlets.
Solar Powered Carport
This next option is not exactly in your home, but for those that already drive a hybrid car and want to further reduce your carbon footprint a solar-powered carport is the next logical step. Set up isn’t as complicated as you might think because all you really need are the solar panels, wiring, and the adapter to fit the charging port for your car.
Solar Air Conditioning
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but solar powered air conditioning is a thing. It works very similarly to solar water heating with obviously some differences. Everyone knows that air conditioning units use a ton of electricity, so it makes sense to solar power your air conditioning, which will save you a lot of money in the long run. As an added benefit, the hot water produced as a byproduct of the air conditioning can also be repurposed, thus saving you even more on your energy consumption.
Rooftop Solar Panels
The most popular of all the options in this article, rooftop solar panels are also the most expensive. However, this is an investment that pays for itself in the long run. Rooftop solar panels have been getting better and better as the years go by and the energy yield has grown considerably. A solar panel array does need maintenance and cleaning to ensure that it is delivering the most energy possible to power your home.
As an alternative, you can look into solar shingles. Solar panels are installed on your existing roof, whereas, solar shingles actually replace your roof. Solar shingles are a good idea if your existing roof is near the end of its lifespan.
Solar Powered Sun Sensor for your Habitat ScreensTM
Talius offers a sun sensor powered by a solar cell that operates your Talius Habitat ScreensTM. This sun sensor can be placed in a location near your screens and it will automatically lower your screens when the sun is out and open them during the evening. This helps to optimize the use of your Habitat ScreensTM for cooling and sun protection purposes, even when you aren’t at home!
Solar Water Heating
Another popular choice for many homeowners, solar water heaters provide hot water both during the day and at night. Naturally, the bigger the tank, the more hot water available for your domestic usage. There are many types of solar water heaters, so doing some research is advisable before purchasing. Whichever system you choose will save you money in the long run as compared to electric or gas powered water heaters.
Solar Ovens
This final suggestion isn’t used inside the house but it does replace an appliance that is notorious for using a considerable amount of energy. We’re talking about the oven. Its replacement is the succinctly named Solar Oven. You can either build it using some surprisingly simple materials or you can purchase one from most hardware stores. Solar Ovens work by trapping sunlight to heat your food. The obvious downside is that this won’t work unless the sun is out.
Thanks for reading our article on innovative ways to integrate solar panels into your home. This list is not exhaustive by any means, so if you feel like we’ve missed out an important option, feel free to drop it in the comments section below.
