How to Use the Sun for Heating, Cooling, and Powering Your Home

The sun is a massive celestial force – without it, there would be no life on earth. Since the beginning of mankind, we have shared a reverence for the sun and the warmth it provides us. But could the sun also help us beat the scorching temperatures in the summer? This is the amazing thing about the sun – it can cause the temperatures to soar in the summertime, but it can also provide the energy needed to power your AC system. In fact, it can also power your heating system and other systems inside your home. Realistically, you can take your home completely off the grid and switch entirely to solar power. Here is how to use the sun for heating, cooling and powering your home.

First of all, you have to take a step back and look at your budget. You can very easily jump into a solar energy system and realize that you are way in over your head financially. Indeed, some systems are more expensive than others. For instance, do you want to completely outfit your home for solar energy or do you want to only power one or two systems, like your HVAC system and the lighting inside your home. In some cases, a single or double panel can be affordable enough to fit most budgets and you’ll get the power you need to significantly reduce your impact.

Also, you have to think about what your energy needs are. In some cases, you may be able to get away with a simple ductless air conditioning system that is powered by solar energy. One of the biggest benefits of ductless air conditioning is that there is less maintenance involved and the installation process is much simpler. However, if you have more energy needs, you may want to go with a more intensive system. Also, if you want to power your entire home, you will need to really plan your switch over to solar energy.

Next, you have to look at whether or not your home is best suited to solar energy. For instance, do you have the space for solar energy panels and other equipment that is essential for the solar energy process. In most cases, you will install specialized photovoltaic cells on your roof. The cells absorb the UV rays and then convert them into energy. A specialized converter then sends the energy to a main circuit board that then gets transported to all the outlets in your home. In some cases, you may not be able to fit a solar energy system on your property, which would make utilizing solar energy impossible.

Lastly, if you do have the room and the space to install a solar energy system, you can run all of your major systems – from your HVAC system to all the other appliances in your home that require power. When it comes to powering your home, solar energy can vastly decrease your carbon footprint and it can reduce your monthly energy bills. In the end, solar energy may just be the best investment you can make as a homeowner.