How to Use More of Solar Energy at Home without Compromising with Looks

An increasing number of people are becoming environmentally conscious, resulting in a record breaking growth of the solar energy production. The global solar output has more than trebled in last four years. Solar power generation enjoyed another year of exceptionally rapid growth in 2016, with a 29.6% increase. The highest growth was recorded in China (34.5 GW) and the US (14.7 GW), together accounting for two-thirds of the growth in global solar capacity.

However, increasing awareness is not the only factor responsible for this rapid growth. Decreasing solar prices have also played a crucial role in the growth of solar along with various innovations. The only obstacle till date was the aesthetics. In response, however, several tech companies have come up with appealing solar designs that let you utilize more solar energy without compromising the architecture of your house

1.Solar Landscape Lighting

Right now, the most reliable and readily available piece of solar technology that comes with functional aesthetics is the solar landscape lighting. The market is overflowing with thousands of outdoor solar lights. As they don't require an external source of electricity, you can save the cost of laying additional wiring. They can get ample sunlight throughout the day to keep them going from sunset to sunrise. 

Besides cutting your monthly energy expenses, they can also accentuate the architectural and landscaping features of your property. However, you will need to take regular care of the solar lights to ensure maximum efficiency. It includes cleaning the solar cells as well as pruning branches and bushes that block the sunlight. 

2.Meet the Next-Generation Solar Roof Tiles

No more slapping heaps of cumbersome conventional solar panels on your roof. That's right! With solar tiles, you can generate solar energy without compromising the looks of your roof. These tiles are designed to look just like ordinary roof tiles. You can install them in the same overlapping way as traditional roof slates. Thus, then can readily blend with the traditional roof tiles. 

Solar tiles work just like the ordinary solar panel. Each tile consists of several photovoltaic cells. When the light falls on these cells, they create an electric field which can be used to power your hose. Just like conventional roof tiles, solar tiles are also resistant to various environmental factors as well as chemical agents. 

The American tech giant Tesla recently launched its solar roof tiles. According to Tesla, the solar tiles will cost $21.85 per square foot, on average. During a special meeting with the shareholders in November 2016, CEO Elon Musk was quoted saying, “It’s looking quite promising that a solar roof will actually cost less than a normal roof before you even take the cost of electricity into account.”

Tesla is also offering a 30-year power warranty plus manufacturing warranty for infinity or the lifetime of your house, whichever comes first, for the tiles itself. Products with similar features have already surfaced elsewhere in the global solar market, European tech companies such as Dyaqua have introduced their products (invisible solar roof tile, available only in Italy) to the local markets.

3.Solar Skins Can Blend Traditional Solar Panels with Your Roof

SolarSkin is also a brilliant piece of next-generation solar technology. Sistine Solar, an MIT spinout, has introduced a range of solar skins that will give your conventional solar panels a facelift with custom designs. So, if you already have a traditional solar rooftop system, this may be just the thing you need to make it as appealing as your house itself. 

SolarSkin is a layer that can be imprinted with any image and embedded into a solar panel. In other words, you can blend the solar panels with your roof without interfering with their efficiency. It uses selective light filtration to display an image to the human eye while transmitting most of the sunlight to the underlying solar cells. The system costs about 10% more than traditional panel installations. However, a homeowner can still expect to save more than $30,000, over the life of the system. 

The SolarSkin comes in three distinct patterns including shake-style shingle, three-tab shingle, and Spanish tile. There are fourteen color options available such as sand, slate, charcoal, farmhouse, and oak among others. You can also get a customized print.

4.Windows Can Soak in the Sunlight and Power Your House Too

Turning windows into solar cells is another disruptive solar technology that has been in the limelight recently. Researchers from all over the globe are trying to create transparent solar panels that can act as both window panes as well as solar cells. SolarWindow Technologies, a Maryland based company, is trying to develop a thin transparent coating that can be applied to standard glass and plastic windowpanes to produce solar power. On the other hand, Physee is using already small solar panels installed along the edges of glass panes to generate solar power. Though still in development or early production stages, several different solar window technologies will soon become a household product.

Conclusion

In the recent years, solar energy has enjoyed rapid growth, particularly in the domestic sector. However, this upward trend can use a little boost if the solar panels could integrate with the architecture of your hose. From aesthetically pleasing solar landscape lights to solar windows, these 4 technologies/ products will help you in this regard. If you are a solar enthusiast, make sure to try one these technologies and use more solar energy without compromising the looks of your house.