Since the dawn of creation, humanity has used the sun to heat itself, dry fruits and vegetables, tell the time, and in the modern age, even produce electricity. The sun is a seemingly inexhaustible source of natural energy that we have not yet begun to fully understand. But by harnessing this natural energy we can heat our homes, produce hot water, heat swimming pools, and do a host of other things at a fraction of the cost and with little impact on the environment.

Solar energy systems at home

When we think of solar energy systems, our first thought tends to be a home in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of roof-mounted solar panels. These panels collect energy from the sun and convert it into electricity using a power inverter. Systems like this have been around for decades and have allowed people to reduce their dependence on local utilities for both electricity and natural gas.

Obviously, solar power systems for home power generation work best in sunny environments. A city like Phoenix, AZ would be much more conducive to these systems than Seattle, WA, for example. Also, the home solar power system must be custom designed to suit a particular home. Cookie cutter systems may offer a minimum amount of benefits, but not the maximum benefits of custom designed systems.

Solar Power Systems in Commercial Applications

One of the most exciting and rewarding parts of solar energy is adapting current technologies for use in commercial and business settings. Creating innovative ways for companies to use this energy allows them to operate more efficiently and at a lower cost, leaving more money and resources to invest in developing products and services. In any business, the lower the overhead, the more productive the business will be. If overhead costs can be reduced by reducing energy costs, everyone wins.

Solar power systems are being used in commercial applications, as well as domestic applications, to generate electricity and hot water. Office buildings tend to be the main targets for solar panels due to the fact that they are already built to take full advantage of the sun for aesthetic purposes. With entire facades made of glass, the standard office building could replace a good portion of that glass with solar panels and realize huge energy savings.

Solar energy systems for communication

Another innovative method of using this type of energy is in the area of ​​communications. In remote areas without access to the electricity grid, communication centers can only receive power from the sun. One particular example is the US interstate highway system. Driving down one of the interstate highways, it is not uncommon to see roadside emergency phones powered by solar panels. Solar energy also supplies emergency traffic signals, building lighting, and radio towers.

One of the biggest uses of this type of energy in communications comes in the form of satellites. Since satellites are not obstructed by the sun while in orbit, they are the best candidates for using solar energy as efficiently as possible. Many satellites are built around the power system that will operate it, to the extent that the power system becomes the focal point of the construction. In theory, solar-powered satellites can continue to operate in perpetuity; As long as the sun burns, they will have energy.