When it comes to adopting solar energy, it is not a simple straight forward thing, especially since there are many questions. The best thing to do is to start small and grow your solar power project as you get more comfortable with it. A simple project could be a portable solar shower. This is a hot water shower that can be used at any outdoor location: at camp sites as well as on boats. All you need is a special five gallon plastic bag which can be filled with water and exposed to the sun. The front or top portion of the bag is clear to allow the sunlight to pass while the other end is dark to absorb maximum energy. You can enjoy a good hot water shower almost anywhere; alternately you can use that water for cleaning purposes too.
Adding sunscreens is an example of another simple solar project – the difference is that you are not tapping into the sunlight here, just reflecting it back. The sunscreens are great to reflect the sun’s rays away from your home and at the same time they are also great insulators. In summer when you coat your windows with these screens, you will see a big reduction in disturbingly bright light and also in the heat inside the house. Typically, it is the windows that face south, so coating them with sunscreen is the ideal solution. Visit Richie Vee’s site for more inexpensive solar power project tips like these.
Of course, come winter, you’d want to get rid of the sunscreen – after all you want your house to be as warm as possible. The best solution is to have your sunscreens mounted on frames that can be easily replaced with clear windows in the winter time. Alternately, you can use an electric window which flips the sunscreen on or off as per your needs. Such systems can actually last three years on an average. So it is pretty good investment.
Typically, the sun screens are available in rolls that are 8 feet wide. So you can place them on any window 8 feet long or smaller. Since they are in rolls, you can adjust the length as per your needs. If you are installing removable sunscreens, just get yourself some tacks, a hammer, a box cutter and a standard stapler. Besides these, you can also get sunscreen frames from the store directly. They are available in a wide range of colors. You can also get them with the screens or without the screens. Before you invest a lot into these screens, you can try out the solution at home using some cheap sunscreen products. Just install them on your windows and experience the change. If you like them, you’ll feel more confident about adding the sunscreen to your house. If you’re looking for more solar power project tips like these visit Richie Vee’s site.
Security lights are another great solution of small scale solar power projects. These kits include a PV cell, a battery, a spot light and a sensor. The PV cell needs to be placed in the sunlight to capture the energy. However, the rest of the parts can be placed anywhere you like. Depending on how you want to use the motion detector spotlight, you can place them in different locations. Here are some ideas:
a) The front porch overlooking the driveway is a great spot for this light. With the sensor you can ensure that the light turns on every time someone walks on to the driveway.
b) Garage or personal work sheds are other places where you can have this unit setup. As soon as you walk into the garage, the light turns on to aid you in working or look around.
c) Basements are another location where you would appreciate motion triggered lighting system. As soon as you step on the stairs, the lights in the basement can turn on.
d) Light is also great inside the gazebo with a dining table.
e) In fact, this can be used in any remote location in your home where there is not enough light or limited brightness. The sensor can be programmed to shutoff the light at whatever time you prefer.
Finally, the solar lighting tubes are another mini solar power project. Of course this solution is not as simple as the previous ones and involves some complexity. What you have in this is a unit on the roof that captures the sunlight and a silver tube that directs the light into a diffuser. The diffuser then reflects the light through tubes that can light up the entire room.
This solution is quite complex for an in-house project, but it can be very satisfying when completed. Darker family rooms are great place to have this solution implemented.
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