Solar Energy Applications - Residences, Businesses & More Tap Into the Power of the Sun

Only a hundredth of a millionth of a percent of the Sun's energy that hits the earth is actually needed to meet even our modern day energy needs. While we only use a small fraction of this free, renewable energy source, we have found many applications for solar energy. This includes applications in homes, commercial buildings, industrial use, and consumer products.

A Solar energy application for residential homes and commercial buildings makes use of photovoltaic cells (solar cells) in the form of solar panels installed on the rooftops of the structure. In fact, some roof tiles are now even integrated with solar panels. Solar energy applications in homes and businesses are commonly used in conjunction with conventional electricity. However, some homes that function totally independently make use of battery storage that charge up during the daylight hours to save power for when the sun goes down. Among the uses of solar energy in homes and businesses are lighting (both indoors and outdoors) and powering small appliances such as microwaves, solar TVs, and solar radios, among many others.

Solar energy can be quite useful in remote locations where access to conventional power supply is expensive and sometimes non-existent. Furthermore, solar energy applications used in industrial locations is also quite popular. These applications include powering transportation signaling like aircraft warning lights, monitoring equipment, lighthouses, corrosion protection systems, and more. Solar energy is highly reliable and low maintenance, which makes it ideal for these uses.

Another solar energy application is the use in small scale consumer products that require small amounts of energy. These include calculators (the most familiar medium), portable lights (including flashlights), and radios. However, another popular use is for battery rechargers, especially in recreational vehicles (RVs) and in boats that need to tap other energy sources to power vital equipment like GPS.

Solar powered applications provide many advantages over our standard energy sources such as fossil fuel and conventional electric power. Apart from the virtually free cost of energy from the sun, solar energy is also unlimited and renewable. In addition, it also does not create waste product and actually decreases environmentally-harmful green house gas emissions.