Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life for Home/ Resident: Maximizing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Solar Power

Atiqur Rahman Mollick

2 years ago

Energy from the sun generally can be categorized in two ways: one is from heat, and another is light. We use solar energy every day in various ways.

While we hang laundry outside to dry in the sun, we use solar heat to dry our clothes. Plants produce their food with the presence of sunlight. Animals and humans get food from plants.

There is a variety of products in the world that use solar energy. These products are called solar devices (or appliances) or solar thermal collectors.

Solar thermal technologies use solar heat energy to heat water or air for water, space, and pool heating for homes and businesses.

Let us look at the application of solar energy in daily life.

The widespread global success, a massive opportunity to reduce fossil fuel demand, and the application of solar energy in daily life are increasing. Evidence suggests our need for simple daily uses of solar energy is an excellent need nowadays.

Rational For Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life

The use of solar energy for daily life has several advantages. Energy-saving has been an elusive quest for many of us living in developed urban cities. We seem to need energy for every purpose in our household.

We live in this day and age, and energy is essential for modern living and convenience. There is a way to save energy and costs of energy by switching to solar.

We can use solar energy for every home and office aspect to perform daily tasks. The use of solar appliances is one of the best ways to cut the expenditure on energy.

Let us see the application of solar energy in daily life and how we can get benefit from them-

Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life For Home/ Resident

When we delve into solar energy’s residential uses, we are talking about the most basic uses of energy.

This includes watching television, heating, washing clothes, lighting the home, working from home on your laptop or computer, taking a shower, flushing the toilet, and cooking.

Residential uses of energy account for around 40 percent of total energy use globally. Imagine how much you manage to save by converting this into solar energy and translating this into annual energy saving per household?

Solar battery for charging your cellphone – In this modern era, the smartphone age takes over all of our needs, and we have to charge frequently our phones or tablet.

Despite what needs charging, there is a solar energy panel that you can accommodate for charging your device alone! But you need to ensure that your solar battery charger gets enough sunlight for service.

These battery chargers are they’re readily available nowadays- isn’t it a great thing? These chargers are becoming a trendy commodity without getting roof panels or investing a ton of money, as it’s a way for people to be more solar-friendly daily.

Depending on your budget and what type or quality you desire, these chargers can range from relatively cheap to higher-quality.

However, These solar-powered battery chargers would be your next step into the application of solar energy in daily life.

And, quite obviously, they’re also great because they work unbelievably. It’s always great to have a way to charge your cell phone efficiently.

Solar Calculators – Nowadays, almost all calculators run off of solar energy or artificial light. It’s something that we all know and expect, and yet it’s not talked about enough. We seem to overlook what the features of calculators are.

With a closer look, you might find most calculators have tiny solar cells built into them at the top of the calculator.

These calculators consist of the distinct privilege of running off natural sunlight (and, therefore, being powered by solar energy) or using artificial lights inside homes and buildings to power themselves. Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs usually do the trick.

With their solar cells, these calculators are yet another way that you can bring solar energy into your daily life—sometimes without even knowing it.

Solar Indoor Lighting-

A widespread and very efficient way people convert to using more environmentally-friendly energy is by changing their indoor lighting.

Now, there’s an effortless and common way to make this pertain to solar energy. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) make this possible with minimal reliance on power consumption.

The solar light CFL or LED is an environmentally friendly option to apply solar energy in daily life. These lights run on solar energy during the day and receive power from batteries at night.

To light up the rooms, these lights or sets of lights can be used indoors and in the garden area and pavement area around the entrance, passage area of the building, and parking.

Solar Cooking-Images Needed To Add

Some solar ovens and cookers are available. On sunny days, you can quickly cook outside without using your conventional methods like electricity or gas. It is considered cooking inside the box, which can be built yourself.

You would need a box, pan, aluminium foil, cooking bag, duct tape, Styrofoam, and a thermometer, and you have a solar cooking area ready.

Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life For Commercial

Commercial use of solar energy is basically what can be used for various purposes in the commercial sector.

This includes lighting commercial buildings and spaces, power used by companies and businesses throughout cities for computers, fax machines, workstations, and copiers.

The use of energy in the commercial space is similar to its use in the industrial area-

Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life For Outdoor

Solar Outdoor lighting-Solar-powered outdoor lighting is becoming more common and is an excellent way to incorporate solar energy into their daily lives, a good application of solar energy in daily life.

Having outdoor lighting is one of the main things that people have in common, whether it’s solar energy powered or not.

People like having lights outside to light the path, especially if they know they’re coming home late.

Through these outdoor lights, you’re able to see where you’re going, notice your surroundings, and see your keys as you unlock your front door.

Solar Transportation– In many cities, trains, subways, buses, planes, and cars are transitioning to solar power.

About 28 percent of the United States’ annual energy consumption uses to transport people and goods. And 92 percent of the energy vehicles use comes from gasoline and diesel fuels.

Today, alternative types of vehicles are replacing traditional oil-burning models. Those are electric vehicles, hybrids, and vehicles that run on photovoltaic (PV) energy.

PV energy comes from the sun, the latest innovation transforming the renewable energy sector in the U.S. Recently, the first solar-powered aircraft crossed the Pacific Ocean as a testament to this energy source’s immense potential.

In daily life, solar-powered vehicles may finally join as general transit in a city near you. Solar vehicles have recently entered international racing competitions, gaining recognition and status in areas previously untouched.

Application of Solar Energy in Daily Life for Industry

Solar Pumping is generally another application of the solar photovoltaic system. There are basically two types of solar pumping systems: the DC solar Pumping system and the AC solar Pumping system.

DC solar pumping systems are small systems for domestic purposes, offices, and minor land irrigation up to two Acres.

These DC solar pumping systems are very reliable and cheaper. In this system, the pump motor is a DC motor.

One controller controls its operation, which is the MPPT controller responsible for the pump’s smooth operation without the need for batteries.

The maximum flow with DC systems can be up to 10,000 Gallons per day with a maximum head of 200ft

SOLAR POWER FOR TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Telecommunication networks are another complete application for solar photovoltaic from solar power.

For example, some renowned telecommunication industries have power supply from Diesel Generators in remote areas where no grid is available and have backup diesel generators where the grid is available.

The operational Expense of the power generator is very high. The best replacement for the diesel backup is clean energy like solar power.

These systems can be hybrid as solar and wind where the wind is available. Many telecom operators have installed solar systems worldwide, and they are very satisfied. Many are still planning for the purchase of solar power systems.

SOLAR POWER FOR REMOTE TERMINAL AND SURVEILLANCE UNITS

The parameters of oil and gas production and processing plants are controlled and monitored remotely through remote computerized terminal units. In surveillance systems, mainly the monitoring is remote, and solar power application in this area is very reliable and cost-effective.

Application of Solar Energy in Agriculture

Farmers are at the center of global warming; since the rise in temperature affects climate change, it affects agricultural produce.

The world population is continuously increasing daily, and the demand for food products is witnessing a significant upgrade.

Using solar power can help us to tackle climate change and help us fight the problem effectively.

Solar Power Controlling Daily Activities

Solar energy possesses a massive potential for solar irrigation and can pump water for livestock and crops.

There is an innovative design or renovate buildings to trap the heat available in daylight. The trapped heat can be used for warming homes and livestock yards.

There are some livestock needs a continuous supply of fresh air. Some systems can run coolers and other such boxes and avoid electricity bills.

This is the most cost-effective approach to create the building’s structure to optimize its effectively receiving sunlight.

Solar water heaters provide hot water for cattle cleaning and pen cleaning. Dairy operations use hot solar water to warm and stimulate cow’s udders.

The sunlight can be used for electricity generation to power homes and agricultural houses.

Solar Energy to Dry Crops and Grains

A significant percentage of agricultural produce is spoilt during traditional open-air drying.

Using the solar drying method can help dry crops faster and at an even rate in the open field with the added advantage of protection from birds, insects, and worms.

Easily perishable crops are often challenging to dry. Most of the portion ends up getting spoiled; with solar drying, you can quickly dry these crops and enable longer storage times and more comfortable transportation.

This will remarkably decrease the number of spoiled crops and contribute to increasing farmer’s income.

You will find various types of solar dryers, such as direct drying (solar box dryer), indirect drying (solar cabinet dryer), mixed-mode drying (solar tunnel dryer), or hybrid drying (hybrid solar/biomass cabinet dryer).

Typically, a solar drying apparatus consists of a shed, a drying rack, and a solar collector. The shed traps the solar heat from the south-facing window, and natural convection or a solar fan propels the heat.

If your farm already has a crop dryer in place, replacing the conventional fuel powering the apparatus with solar energy makes sense. You would be able to save fuel and money by this method.

Practical Usage of Greenhouse Heating

Greenhouses typically use solar energy to carry out the prescribed function, and it needs to be regulated with gas and oil to maintain a constant temperature.

You can adopt several methods to increase the efficiency of your greenhouse, but using a heat sink is commonly optioned by farmers.

The easiest and opted-out method to regulate your greenhouse temperature is to use a thermal mass called a heat sink.

A thermal mass is any material that absorbs energy and stores it for using it later, and water is one such example. Solar heat trapped in the water can be used to regulate the temperature.

Using Solar Photovoltaics in Agriculture

Sunlight can also generate electricity using PV solar panels, which is often a cost-friendly approach than conventional methods of producing electricity, especially to a remote location where they can set up power transmission lines. They have no such moving parts and are easier to maintain than diesel fuels.

PV generally can be applied to a wide range of applications; the most important include irrigation, refrigeration of agricultural products, electric fencing, milling of grains, poultry lighting, etc.

Although the solar PV system application is limited to apparatus with smaller energy inputs, it will integrate you to cut your dependency on electricity. In addition, the cost of the PV systems is projected to decline over time.

Application of solar energy in Education

Let’s find out Why Schools Should Go Solar – Application of solar energy in Education. Installing solar energy enables a school to run on clean energy while also combating greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Besides, an on-site solar installation reduces dependence on outsourced fossil fuels and promotes renewable energy use in the surrounding area.

The use of renewable energy helps not only your school but the contiguous neighbourhood as well.

Installing solar enables your school to run on clean energy while at the same time combatting greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Besides, an on-site solar installation reduces dependence on outsourced fossil fuels and promotes renewable energy use in the surrounding area.

Many schools’ large, flat roofs are unbelievably untapped resources for renewable energy. Given the upsides—the significant potential for cost savings, the opportunity for an educational tool for the students, and the chance to make a great potential of positive environmental impact—every American school should consider it.

Application of solar energy in Recreation

When you think of the perfect holiday and want to explore the beautiful natural? The caravan is the best way where getting enough power for your caravan can be an issue.

Running a generator can be very expensive, noisy, and smelly. Not so good for our environment. Solar power has been followed in architectural and construction circles. People are flocking to the idea as it promises greener energy and potential cost savings.

Solar Sailing Boat

Another environmentally friendly solution for our Energy Needs is Solar Sailing Boat

Solar power is rapidly becoming the most popular and economical method of keeping the batteries charged on a boat.

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries, and charge controllers is improving every day.

Moreover, the latest technology in regulators and charge controllers has brought about a notable increase in useable power output, so the difficulties of shading and non-alignment can be compensated for more comfortably.

Not only has PV equipment become more efficient and cost-effective, but so many of the modern devices we use on a boat have become less power-hungry.

Sailing is already relatively clean, but the solar sailing package dramatically reduces the other environmental footprint.

While stewards of the ocean, solar sailing is a meaningful opportunity to eliminate fumes from getting in the way of enjoying the natural beauty, make fuel spills a vestige of the past, and banish greenhouse gases that intensify climate change and ocean acidification.

Three (3) Creative & Cool Applications of Solar Energy in daily life

When we think of “solar power,” we imagine solar panels bolted to rooftops or shimmering solar farms in the desert. Nevertheless, announcements of advances in solar energy technologies are made regularly.

For example, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have fabricated a solar cell that can generate solar conversion efficiency as high as 47.1 percent.

Solar cells continue to be fabricated with new and improved materials, such as perovskite and organic semiconductors.

These and other discoveries enable an increasing number of creative solar energy applications, seven of which are listed below.

You will be amazed to know that small, flexible solar panels can now be stitched into clothing fabric.

Solar filaments embedded into shirts, winter coats, and other clothing types keep you warmer, power your phone, or provide energy for different portable electronic needs.

Other applications include lighting up building facades, awnings, and curtains or powering heated car seats.

ii. Solar Skins

“Solar skin” is a novel solar technology which is created by the MIT-spin-off Sistine Solar that integrates custom designs into the solar panel systems; it is an aesthetic overlay that transforms any solar panel’s look by using imprinted custom images.

This innovative technology uses selective light filtration to simultaneously display a vibrant image and then transmit sunlight to the underlying solar panel with minimum loss inefficiency. Images can be customized to display advertisements and business logos.

iii. Solar at Night

Without proper sunlight, solar panels cannot generate electricity at night time. However, California University’s scientists have created a new type of solar panel; these Anti-Solar Panels can produce clean the energy at night by capturing infrared light generated by the thermal gradient between the solar cell and the atmosphere.

Although the nighttime solar panel only makes almost 25 per cent of the energy a regular solar panel produces during the day, a significant amount of extra energy is stored or added to the power grid.

Cool Applications of Solar Energy in daily life

Watches

It is time to get over with the dead, disposable watch batteries. Solar-powered watches require no battery replacements, and they can power up from almost any light source. They can run for months without any recharging.

So let’s switch to Solar-powered watches, and you’ll never have to replace a battery again.

Solar window

Basically, a solar window is a built-in photovoltaic functionality window, which means that it can convert light from the sun into electric energy.

Solar Keyboard

Yep, this is a simple thing. This solar-powered keyboard is absolutely perfect for those with a lamp or intense light by their desk. This keyboard doesn’t use batteries or electricity for powering your mad typing skills; instead, it uses light!

Suppose you can’t manage a light near your desk, no worries. You can quickly charge it up outdoors or indoors under a light, so it’s ready to use for the next working days. Make a minor solar tweak to your office space to make a big difference in the office environment.

Solar Bag- SOLAR BAG IS THE KEY TO YOUR handy Outing

If you hate electricity bills or have to look for plug-points and love backpacks, the Solar backpack may be the best backpack for you.

With a weatherproof solar panel integrated into it, just being outdoors is enough to generate electricity!

A Solar backpack is basically a backpack equipped with thin-film solar cells and batteries. The solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, store in batteries, and that can also be used to power portable electronic appliances like mobile phones and mp3 players.

There is a huge demand for cheaper, more sustainable energy, which means that solar energy companies will continue to find approaches to improve solar cell technologies and lengthen battery life.

Advanced and improved solar power and storage technologies will also expand design opportunities for smaller and more powerful solar cells, which can be used in more creative and innovative ways to improve life quality & better application of solar energy in daily life.

Latest Solar technology Future prospect

Satellites in Orbit

You might know that without clouds or air to reduce sunlight, 1,300 watts of energy per square meter arrive from the sun in space.

Satellites use solar cells for converting sunlight into electrical energy, powering sophisticated onboard radio and computer equipment that affects your daily life through satellite television, radio, and weather forecasting.

As they are expensive to launch, operate hundreds of miles above the Earth, and are very difficult to maintain, satellites need a reliable power source, where photovoltaic cells provide it for almost 20 years.

Crisis of application of solar energy in your daily life/ BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

The barriers in the growth of solar energy applications are; high upfront costs because of heavy taxes and duties, Lack of customer awareness, Lack of designing and installation Skills, Lack of Subsidy and bank financing, and Lack of promotion and will at the Government Level, Lack of FIT (Feed-in Tariff Policy), Lack of Grid Interconnection Policy, high Payback ranging from 10 to 13 years, etc.

Concluding thoughts

As we all know, the environment is severely damaged for several human-centric reasons. Climate change is a severe issue.

Solar energy is also an excellent way to protect our living and space. Solar energy is solar power derived from sunlight using solar panels.

It is just one of the latest innovative initiatives that the “Going Green” movement has revealed to build up for maintaining renewable and sustainable power sources.

By reading this article, there are many ways you can incorporate solar energy in your daily life.

By charging your cell phone’s battery, using your trusty calculator, lighting up your house, or lighting up the outside of your home for almost zero cost, the application of solar energy in your daily life is a small yet incredibly efficient way.

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