Friday, January 24, 2014

5 Incredibly Creative Uses For Solar Panels

By Hedrick Lepsch


Inventive people around the world are coming up with creative ways to harness the sun's energy. We've had solar panels for a while, but these exciting new solar projects aren't exactly your standard roof-top set. These people are not only dedicated to using clean energy-they're finding ways to use solar power that innovate and expand what we view as possible when it comes to renewables.

If you pay attention and take the time to catch the leak and fix it quickly, quite often the fix is easy and inexpensive. The longer that you allow water to damage your home, the more expensive the fix becomes. Any discoloration, dripping noises, and appearance of wetness should be examined immediately.

Solar trash cans are popping up in cities across the nation, and it's easy to see why. A solar panel sits on top of the can, soaking in the sun's rays all day. Meanwhile, the can compresses all the garbage thrown in, and sends out a signal when it's ready to be emptied. Estimates are that solar trash cans reduce the costs of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. That equates to huge savings for any municipality that invests in them. Before too long you'll be seeing one on a street corner near you.

If you know that the leak is coming from your roof, start by taking note of where the water is collecting. In homes with an attic, go up with a flashlight and examine the area above where your ceiling is discolored. Remember that water may not be entering from a spot directly above the discoloration.

The Solar Sinter not only powers itself with solar panels, it uses a special lens to focus the sun, which melts the sand that it then "prints" into a 3D object. 3D printers are one of the coolest new devices out there, but adding one that is entirely run off the sun's energy is taking it to a whole new level.

Take a caulking gun through your home and make sure that every single crack and crevice is sealed. Many homes loose significant amounts of heat through poorly sealed windows and doors. Choose to wash your dishes and clothes in cooler water, saving the hot for when it's necessary.

The Solar Impulse made headlines worldwide when it flew from California to New York in July of 2013. That might not be impressive except for the fact that the plane used energy from the sun instead of conventional fuel. The plane generates four propellers using 12,000 solar panels mounted on its wings. It can fly both day and night and weighs only about as much as a small car. After its first successful transcontinental flight, the Solar Impulse team has plans of flying nonstop around the world.

Fixing the Leak

Taiwan recently completed a 50,000 seat stadium that gets 100% of its energy from the 8,844 solar panels mounted on its roof. The stadium has a cool dragon shape, and it is multi-purpose but used mainly for rugby.

Quick fixes, while easy, may not extend through the life of your roof and the leak may open up again if you don't fix it properly to begin with. Take some time to research so that you know exactly how to properly repair the damage so that you won't have to again.

The solar panels are actually in the leaves of the Solar Botanic Power Tree, which can supply enough energy to power a whole house. Not only does it use solar energy, it channels energy from wind and heat as well. The artificial trees would look pretty cool in your front yard, but just imagine a plug coming out of the tree and powering your car. Some of these inventions might seem outlandish, but they're the result of a little imaginative thinking combined with solar panels. Just about everything we use in our day to day lives has the potential to be powered by the sun's rays. Everybody is capable of transforming the way their home uses energy when they use a good solar mounting system and some forward thinking. Find out today how you, too, can harness the power of the sun.




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