Solar Power has come a long way over the years not only the technology used to make it more efficient and cost effective but the devices and inventions the energy is being used for. Here are four cool uses of solar energy.

Buy a low-flow shower head – The amount of water flowing through your pipes can be enormous. Purchase a water-efficient shower head which cost around $20 and uses up to fifty percent less water than a traditional showerhead. The right showerhead shouldn’t lower user satisfaction but should lower your heating bill. Maintain Your Furnace – This has two main parts. The first is to check the air filter. Clean it off every couple weeks and replace it when it can’t be cleaned. The air filter only costs $3-$15 and if you don’t replace it the heater will stop working. Oil boilers should be cleaned and tuned annually and gas systems every two years. A tune up costs around $100 but by maintaining your unit you can save between three to ten percent heating bills.

Purchase a Smart Thermostat- The costs of these thermostats vary depending on what extra functions you want but expect a costs between $50 to $100. The smart thermostat can help you save huge percentages on your heating bills if you set the thermostat to turn on before you get home and turn off when you are away you save hours of heating.

Check your Windows Windows have a large part to play in how heat energy in your house is both created and dispersed. The first thing you should be aware of regarding your windows is how well they are fitted to your house. Cracks or spaces on your windows can leak heat at a surprising rate, causing your heater to work harder in order to keep your house warm.

Global Sun Oven is a solar oven built to fill seventy percent of the needs for a seven person family. The ‘cooker’ can actually boil, steam, roast, etc. at high cooking temperatures up to 360 degrees. The oven should last around twenty years and only weighs around twenty pounds. This is definitely a cool, or rather hot solar powered gadget to help save money and clean up the environment.

Take Advantage of Heat – There are a bunch of activities in your house that cause heat you can take advantage of. If you are showering open up the door and let the hot air go through the house rather than turning on a vent in the bathroom. If you drying your clothing do the same thing open up the door to the laundry room and let the excess heat circulate. Open the shades when the sun is shining through and then close them up when it is dark outside to prevent the cold from entering as easily.

Solar Wi-Fi This is the classic solar power idea put to new use. The system works with by collecting energy, say through Helios 310 watt panels and then storing the energy in batteries for later use. While the system can be very costly to install, around $10,000 there is little to no maintenance required. The energy stored in the battery is used to create a Wi-Fi access point that reach a range of thirty miles pretty impressive.

Hopefully these tips helped to get you started on lowering your heating bill. However, there are many more ways to get the job done so do a bit more research and save some dough.

SimpleRay was founded in 2007 with one goal: simplifying solar for homeowners, business owners, installers and non-profits. We believe in the importance of Siliken solar panels, wind and other renewable energy products to the future of our global community. We offer inexpensive solar panels for sale that will help to save costs on your energy bills.