Solar Panels > Solar Panels eBook > Chapter 9: Other Applications for Solar Panels

Chapter 9: Other Applications for Solar Panels

While solar technology is most recognizably applied to home electrical systems, there are many other applications in addition to powering one’s home. With so many convenient and much less expensive choices, it is possible to go greener on any budget.

Using similar technologies to home solar systems, smaller-scale solar modules are available to power recreational vehicles and even houseboats. These are available as all-inclusive kits containing solar panels, inverters, batteries, chargers, cables and generators, as well as necessary wiring diagrams and installation instructions.

On an even smaller scale, solar technology is applicable to the charging of many portable devices including cellular phones, laptop computers, MP3 players and digital cameras. Solar powered radios, ovens, flashlights, lanterns, and showers are available and make fantastic camping accessories; used in the home or office, these types of items are also portable and decrease the expenditure of utility grid-based energy.

One particularly attractive application for solar power is in home landscaping. Solar-powered landscaping features can be added to a home gradually, adding increased beautification and functionality to the home’s exterior on any budget. In addition, they are completely free of energy consumption from the utility grid and are most functional at times when the garden or other area is in the sunlight; thus, they are most functional at times when the homeowner is likely to be enjoying them.

One example of a wonderful application for solar energy in landscaping is the solar-powered fountain. These offer the calm, peaceful water flow of a fountain without the headache associated with fountain installation. Traditional fountain installation requires digging through earth or even concrete in order to bury the power cable supplying the fountain. Alternatively, the wire remains above ground where it is both unsightly and dangerous.In contrast, a solar powered fountain has no unsightly wires and does not require placement near a power outlet. It can therefore be positioned anywhere in the yard, as long as there is ample sunlight. It will be most functional on bright, sunny days; the disadvantage of solar powered fountains is that they may lose water pressure when conditions are not favorable.

Another convenient landscaping feature is solar powered lights. These function by capturing thermal energy during the day and emitting it as light over the course of the evening. Placed throughout a home’s exterior regions, solar lighting provides safety and also spotlights landscaping features that can look particularly pleasant at night. Landscaping lights can be run along walkways and paths or simply placed in the garden, where they can draw the eye to desirable features even in the dark. As with fountains, the freedom from power cords and difficult, costly installation makes solar powered landscaping lights a simple and cost-effective way to beautify one’s home.

Last, swimming pools can be heated by the sun in several ways. For less than $50, a thermal insulating blanket can be purchased; these capture heat from the sun and then retain it in the pool’s water. Solar panel modules are also available for placement in the pool itself. These operate similarly to solar hot water heaters to modulate the temperature of the water in a pool or spa.