While a lot of people reckon about electrical systems when they consider solar energy, which is only the tip of the iceberg. The truth is, there are many different ways that you can tap into solar power at home that are not only environmentally friendly, and they will also save you money along the way.

While electricity is a fantastic way to use solar energy, there are a lot of other ways you can take advantage of solar power at home. Here are 7 ways you can use solar energy for home.

Here’s a fantastic guide on generating your own solar.

Generate electricity

By using photovoltaic panels, you have the ability to harness the sunlight that strikes your roof every day to generate enough electricity to run your home. You can use that electricity as a way to reduce the amount of electricity you are buying from the utility companies, or you could build a large enough system to completely supply your electrical needs.

Cooking – Solar ovens

There are several different styles of solar cookers that are in use in the world today. The most well loved are box cookers, which allow you to cook several pots of food at the same time, and parabolic cookers.

Box cookers are insulated boxes with heat collectors that gather the heat in the box. It acts like a typical oven, except the heat is provided by the sun instead of gas or electric elements.

Parabolic cookers concentrate the solar energy that is collected with the use of highly reflective curved panels. That energy is directed to a cooker in the center of the collectors. That concentrated heat makes it possible to generate very high temperatures for cooking.

Take Advantage of Windows and Curtains

Many people mistakenly believe that they need to install equipment in order to benefit from the power of the sun. This is a way to see some of those benefits, and it won’t cost you anything.

By opening your curtains when the sun is striking your windows you can easily heat your room. As the sun moves lower in the sky, simply close your curtains to trap all of that heat in. This is a fantastic way to help reduce the amount you spend heating your house.

Water Heaters

While some solar panels are designed to generate electricity, others are designed to collect heat from the sun. That solar power is then used to heat the water that you are using in your home.

By using flat plate collectors water or anti-freeze is heated as it runs through tubes behind the solar collector. That fluid is then circulated through the water tank, heating the water that is in the tank. The water can then be used the same as through a conventional water heater.

Heat your Swimming Pool

One of the complaints from swimming pool owners is the high cost of keeping their pool heated. The solution is to use solar blankets with your swimming pool.

Solar blankets spread across the top of your pool. The blanket serves two purposes. The first is to collect the solar energy striking the pool, allowing the heat to pass through into the water.

The second purpose of the solar blanket is to act as an insulator, keeping the heat from the pool trapped. That way the water stays warm instead of all of the heat escaping into the night air.

Landscape lighting (or indoor lighting)

There are many different indoor and outdoor lighting systems that rely solely on solar energy to power them. These are typically low level lights that generate enough light to make it possible to see the sidewalk or stairs. The solar panels convert the sunlight to electricity, which is stored in internal batteries. When the sun goes down the power from the batteries will power the lights for several hours.

Solar Furnaces

Solar furnaces use the same principles that are used for the solar water heaters to heat your home. Flat panel collectors are used to heat water or anti-freeze. The heat that is collected in the liquid is then transferred to your home using a fan system, similar to the fan in your conventional heating system.

These 7 ways to use solar power at home can be used to significantly lower your utility bills. By taking advantage of the solar energy that is so readily available to us you can reduce the negative affects of burning coal or oil for heat and electricity, you are also saving yourself a lot of money. Consider other ways you can use solar energy in your home.