Our sun is the source of all life on Earth, and solar energy is useful to us in many different ways. The sun creates two main types of energy – light, and heat – that we can harness for many activities ranging from photosynthesis in plants to creating electricity with photovoltaic (PV) cells to heating water and food. So, what are some uses of solar energy? Let’s explore seven common uses and benefits of sunlight in our daily lives.

1. SOLAR ELECTRICITY

This is one of the solar energy applications that has gained a lot of momentum in recent years. As solar panel costs decline and more people become aware of solar energy’s financial and environmental benefits, solar electricity is becoming increasingly accessible.

A distributed solar PV system is typically installed on the rooftops of homes or businesses. These solar power systems generate electricity to offset the property owner’s usage and send any excess production to the electric grid.

A solar battery can connect to your solar power system to enable you to use solar after the sun goes down, power an EV overnight, or provide backup power during emergencies. Some homeowners may choose to go completely off the grid with a solar power and battery system or a solar power and generator system.

In some cases, solar PV may be installed on an adjacent structure such as a barn or mounted to the ground, and then connected to the meter using underground cabling.

2. SOLAR WATER HEATING

Uses for solar energy extend to water heating systems. Most solar water heating solutions create hot water that is consumed inside the home. Solar water heaters use a rooftop cell to absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it to the water tank. Solar water heaters usually have a five to ten-year payback according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Another application of solar energy, especially in the southern and southwestern U.S., is heating swimming pools. Water is circulated to a collector where it is heated by sunlight and then pumped back into the pool.

3. SOLAR HEATING

Typical uses of solar space heating systems include powering radiant floors or pairing with a Forced Hot Air (FHA) system to heat a home. Passive solar home design can also heat homes and businesses in the winter by taking into consideration the placement of windows and the selection of materials used in the building.

4. SOLAR VENTILATION

Solar ventilation solutions such as solar attic fans can reduce the burden of your HVAC by helping to cool your home during the summer. This may be a good option if you are not able to install a solar PV system that offsets your home’s entire electricity use. One innovative product is the Solatube solar attic fan.

Commercial and industrial applications of solar process heat include solar ventilation technologies that can preheat a building’s air in cold climates, reducing energy costs.

5. SOLAR LIGHTING

Solar lights have become ubiquitous and can be found everywhere from home landscaping and security lights to road signs and street lights. These solar lighting technologies for your home are inexpensive and readily available from basic to high-end designs everywhere from your local hardware store to online shopping websites such as Amazon.com.

One innovative use of indoor solar lighting, featured on Mashable, is the Solatube skylight which adds natural light while reducing energy usage.

6. PORTABLE SOLAR

In our connected world, phones and tablets are always with us and, let’s face it, often running low on battery. Portable solar PV chargers can keep our personal electric devices charged on the go. The technology already exists to integrate solar cells into our phones and has been in watches since the 1970s (see the Citizen Eco-Drive). Researchers in Japan have even developed lightweight, water-resistant solar cells that could someday be sewed into clothing to power our devices.

7. SOLAR TRANSPORTATION

Solar-powered vehicles may be the future, with existing applications including buses, trains, airplanes, and race cars built by students in Australia and the U.S. A fully solar-powered car is even slated for commercial release in 2019. This use of solar energy is not yet widely available unless you own an electric car or EV and charge it with solar panels (generally via a solar-connected battery).

A SOLAR-POWERED FUTURE

Renewable energy is already becoming a more familiar part of our lives, and innovation will continue to drive new applications of solar energy technologies that will improve our daily lives and help power a cleaner world.