Top Solar Upgrades for Your Home in 2016

solar roof image drawing

Incorporating the use of solar power within your overall home design is one of the best ways to reduce your household’s carbon footprint while also saving an impressive amount of money on energy costs every year. Luckily, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars in home improvements to benefit from the power of solar. Modernize suggests introducing one or more of these effective solar upgrades for your home that are sure to pay off in 2016:

The Lighting

One of the best ways to benefit from the use of solar is to update your home’s lighting. This can be done by incorporating a few natural lighting features into your space. Start by identifying areas in your home that are used most often throughout the day, and which extra lighting will enhance the use of said spaces.

These spaces can be fitted with solar skylights that reduce the need for artificial lighting. In many cases, you should find that artificial lighting isn’t needed at all until it gets dark outside. Many solar skylights can be opened and closed with the touch of a button to increase natural air flow throughout your home without costing you a dime on energy costs.

The Windows

By simply applying solar insulation film to your home’s windows, you will minimize sun glare, protect your flooring and furniture from harmful UV rays, and improve energy efficiency, which means lower energy bills at the end of the month. Solar insulation film is easy to install and comes in a variety of colors, shades, and designs that should make it easy for you to customize each room’s look and feel.

sun roof window

 The Landscape

Placing solar garden lights throughout your front and back yards will ensure safe travel in the dark so you can enjoy your outdoor spaces no matter what time of day. But beyond basic garden lights, it’s a good idea to incorporate solar in others ways if possible such as:

·         Replacing your garage and gate opener with solar-powered options.
·         Incorporating solar fountains into features that include standing water.
·         Lining the sidewalks with solar light strings to enhance visibility upon returns home in the dark.

In addition, consider setting up an outdoor kitchen that features a solar fridge and oven.

solar water heater

The Water System

An smart way to save money on both energy and water heating costs is to replace your electric or propane water heater with a solar powered option. A solar hot water heater can save you up to 50 percent on your hot water heating costs, and reduce your household’s C02 emissions by about the same amount. You can save even more money as well as optimize your water system’s pressure and functioning by installing a solar water pump, too.

These fun solar update ideas can be implemented one at a time, offering you gradual benefits that will continue to grow in time.

Click on the map of solar farms in Texas and solar farms in California to search for locations.