How does solar power work in modern times? The list of ways to leverage this form of renewable energy is endless, leaving many homeowners wondering how far they can really go when it comes time for them to decide if “going green” or using sustainable forms of electricity are right for their household.
Electricity Production
The environmental benefits of solar energy are becoming increasingly accessible as the costs decline. Although only 1.9% of electricity is generated by it, this number has increased 40% in three years due to its growing popularity and availability for purchase.
A distributed solar PV system is a rooftop installation that generates electricity to offset the property owner’s usage and sends any excess production to the electric grid.
Transportation
The innovative practice of using solar power to construct transportation is expected to grow as more and more companies see the benefits. Recently, a global tour was completed by Solar Impulse 2 – an aircraft powered solely through sunlight which made big splashes in iconic photographs across Asia and North America. In China alone, there are now over 16 000 buses that have been successfully utilizing sun-powered technology for several years already with positive results such as fewer carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere while maintaining efficient mass transit systems within densely populated cities like Beijing or Shanghai where traffic congestion can be quite troublesome during rush hour periods (kelly).
Solar Water Heating
Solar energy can be used for water heating systems. The most common use of solar energy is to heat the home’s hot water tank, which absorbs sunlight and transfers it into a system that heats your house’s hot water supply. Solar panels are able to do this with an average of five to ten years of payback according to the U.S Department of Energy (DOE).
Swimming pools may also benefit from solar power by using pumps heated by sunlight in order to circulate pool waters back into them after they have been cleaned or purified.
Solar Ventilation
Solar ventilation technology can help you reduce costs. For example, Solatube’s solar attic fans preheat the air in cold climates and reduce energy use by up to 50%. Commercial processes that utilize heat from nearby bodies such as natural or man-made energy sources include using them for preheating air in colder climates where they need less fuel input than other heating systems do, making their benefits known when cut back on monthly bills especially throughout winter months.
Renewable energy is becoming increasingly widespread as scientists work on innovations that can be applied across different industries. We’re already seeing more and more innovative ways to use solar energy in our daily lives, which will help us power a cleaner world through sustainable technologies
