As the environmental crisis around us looms closer and closer, many of us are looking to do our part. What does that entail, though, and can we really make that much of a difference? Well, one of the main ways that I try my best to give back is by using alternative sources of energy.
Wind and hydro power are just two possibilities, but lately, I’ve been utilizing solar power more than anything else. That’s because it’s fairly accessible and not overly difficult to install at home. In fact, many garden lights that you can buy in department stores use it now!
What else can we apply it to? Well, if you read about it here, https://www.energy.gov/solar, you’ll find that there are many options. I’ll go over one of them today – using it for your pool.
How it Works
Before I go much further, let’s discuss what solar energy is and how it works. As you can probably guess from the title, it’s power that comes from the sun. Lots of UV rays shine down on us every day, and we’ve figured out ways to harvest them and apply them to our energy grids.
Perhaps the most important thing about it is that this is a renewable source of energy. So, we don’t have to worry about the supply running out, like we do with crude oil and coal (alongside other fossil fuels). It’s also considered “green,” or not harmful to the environment.
The processing doesn’t involve lots of carbon being released into the atmosphere. There are a few different types, which you can see on this page. Those are concentrating solar power (for electricity for big power stations), solar process (to heat and cool commercial buildings), passive technology (to give light and collect heat for homes and businesses in the winter), water heating (using the sun’s heat to warm up water tanks), and photovoltaic technology (provides electricity to homes by directly converting sunlight).
Why for Pools?
It might not be something many of us realize, but powering pools is a significant energy sink. This, of course, means that it will end up costing you a lot of money. Electric bills are one of the biggest ones we have, since so many of us rely on power for many parts of our lives. This has only increased with the issue of working from home.
So, heating a large body of water in our backyards or on our deck? It’s not exactly a price to ignore. Solar energy generally leads to saving money on that cost, though. If you try something like solar pool heater panels, you might find it helps you on this front.
Just keep in mind you may not notice it immediately. There is an investment being made when you get the panels for the first time, since that is an up-front cost. However, many studies demonstrate that in the long-term, it does help you to save money.
If you live in a sunny area, this is particularly valuable. You see, the more natural sunlight you receive, the larger amount of free energy is injected into your home. So, in a place like Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico, you might see a difference more rapidly.
Comfort is a huge reason that people decide to get a pool in their backyard. There’s a good chance you aren’t looking to heat it all the time because of the high temperatures outside. However, that’s not the only thing solar panels can provide power to in this context. Rather, they can also keep sterilizing filters running, as just one example.
So, there’s value to be had wherever you live and want to consider this option for your home. My advice? Don’t stop at just this part of electricity for your house!
Getting our energy from the sun can benefit us in many ways, both in the now and in the future. Perhaps most importantly, we are reducing our own carbon footprint in the world and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. When we’re talking about things we can do to make the world a better place for future generations, this is one of them.