The Brightest Solar Brightness
In the San Francisco Bay Area, which is known for its brightly lit houses and dense population, residents are working to decrease their energy costs and their carbon footprint. As it turns out, the solution is literally right under their noses. The reason these residents don’t observe the Sun more often is because it gets progressively darker as the day goes on. To combat this, they have turned to a product called the Brightest Solar Brightness – which is a film that blocks 99.9% of the sun’s rays while allowing 99.7% of the light in.
This product has been proven to increase the efficiency of solar panels by as much as 20%, so it’s definitely worth a try if you use solar power in the Bay Area.
Rooftop Pros
If you live in a region where it snows a lot, you know how important it is to have your roof covered. This is where most of your energy is lost, either through heat or cold, depending on the season. Luckily, with the invention of the retractable roof, this problem is almost solved. These pros install a system of solar panels on your roof, which supply up to 30% of your home’s energy needs. This is one of the main reasons why more and more people are going solar these days.
If you live in a region where it doesn’t snow a lot but it rains a lot, you can achieve the same goal by having your roof covered with solar cells. These devices work best when it is both sunny and cool outside, which is why most people have them placed on their sunniest and coolest side, facing south or east. If you live in a place where it rarely rains and/or temperatures go above eighty degrees Fahrenheit, however, you are better off having your roof covered with shingles or tiles instead of solar cells. These are thicker and stronger than the thin foil that most solar panels are made of, so if you want your roof to last longer, go for tiles or shingles instead of solar cells.
Increasing Ingenuity
It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and this couldn’t be more true when it comes to solar technology. The fact that we’re living in a world dominated by fossil fuels means we have to look for ways to generate our own energy, and the solar industry is thriving because of this.
In the face of adversity, which we’ve all seen in one form or another, people are coming up with creative solutions to the problems. Take, for example, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which has been battling a power outage that originated in the Transbay Area since February 2019. The agency decided to install more than 300 feet of solar fence, extending from the roof of their main office building to the roof of a high-tech manufacturing building, to prevent birds from feeding on the electrical wiring during the day. Their hope is that this will not only protect their equipment from damage but also provide a little extra charge. Similar technologies have been developed to protect wind turbines and prevent birds from colliding with them as well.
In another example, a resident of West Sacramento, California noticed that a lot of the area’s street lights were not functioning properly, so he invented a device that detects bird activity and switches off the lights if there are any flocks nearby. This prevents the lights from blinding the birds and potentially causing accidents. This invention has received a lot of positive feedback and has even won the Inventor of the Year Award from the Sacramento chapter of the Sierra Club, so it’s evident that nature isn’t the only thing taking a hit from climate change.
Going Solar Is A Family Affair
As we’ve established, protecting your roof and maintaining high energy bills are among the major factors contributing to climate change. Going solar is one of the best ways to combat this, and one of the things that make it so appealing is that it’s a family affair. Consider the case of Richard Green, an engineer who lives in Fremont, California. He decided to install a system of solar panels on the roof of his home, which provides around 40% of the energy needed to operate it. His wife, Barbara, contributed by installing solar panels on their car, which provides another 20% of the energy needed to travel. The couple’s eight-year-old daughter, Maya, even contributed by biking to school, which is eco-friendly because solar-powered bikes emit fewer gases than cars do.
The point is that going solar is something that you and your family can participate in, whether individually or collectively, and it helps combat climate change. This is one of the major draws of going solar in the first place, and it makes it all the more appealing when you know that your efforts are contributing to a brighter, more eco-friendly future for your children and grandchildren.
More Than Meets The Eye
When you’re choosing a brand new home appliance, the first thing you’re going to want to consider is how easy it is to use. After all, you’re going to be using it every day, so you want it to be as simple and straightforward as possible. When it comes to solar technology, this rule applies doubly because when it comes to going solar, you’re essentially using appliances designed for use outside, which require a bit of a learning curve.
The good news is that once you overcome the initial learning curve, everything becomes intuitive. For example, if you live in a region where it snows a lot and you want to keep your roof covered, you can install a retractable roof that is equipped with a system of solar panels so it can open up directly to the sun. If you live in a place where it’s hot and dry, you can have your roof covered with tiles or shingles instead of solar cells. Finally, if you want to use less energy while still charging your electronics, you can connect them all together by using an energy management system (EMS), which monitors your energy use and determines your energy needs. This device can be controlled remotely, so if you leave your home for work and turn on your EMS, it will operate your appliances so they use less energy. This could mean significant savings in energy bills, as well as a lesser impact on the environment.
While we’re on the topic of saving the environment, let’s talk about something that affects all of us – plastic bags. If you purchase a large amount of groceries, you’ll know that using plastic bags is inevitable. The problem is that these are not biodegradable, and they’re slowly adding up in landfills and in our oceans. One of the solutions being used is reusable and/or recyclable bags made of different materials, such as cotton or jute. These bags are designed to be washed and reused, meaning they don’t end up in a landfill after one use.
Final Takeaway
Going solar is a great way to save money and protect the environment at the same time. It’s also a fantastic way for families to participate in an activity that benefits everyone in the home. In addition to being good for the environment, this is an important step towards fighting climate change, so children can look forward to a brighter future.