Solar power is a great, eco-friendly way of harnessing the sun’s energy. Unfortunately, for most of us, rooftop solar is just too expensive. Not to mention the need for a roof that can support a solar array and gets enough sun daily. Even without installing an expensive rooftop system, you can use the sun’s energy to power your home and potentially lower your utility bills. What can you do to add solar power to your home? Read on to find out!

How Solar Panels Work

There are two ways of harnessing solar power: concentrating solar power and photovoltaics. Concentrating solar power (CSP) requires a large amount of space and uses mirrors to concentrate reflected sunlight. Photovoltaics (PV) are used in solar panels like those placed on rooftops or in fields to create an electric charge from the sun’s energy. You may have heard of these solar panels installed on rooftops for residential solar power.

Small Changes

Going solar can mean a lot of things. You can start with small changes with lower upfront costs than a rooftop system. Buying a solar charging battery pack is a fantastic start. These are designed for outdoor enthusiasts, but you can use them at home to charge your phone or other handheld devices. It’s a great way to harness green energy for everyday use and reduce your electric bill.

Another simple way to add solar to your home is to switch your outdoor lighting to solar-powered fixtures. Whether motion-sensing floor lights or garden path lighting, you can find solar fixtures online and in hardware stores.

You can purchase a solar generator to use solar for small appliances and some other needs. These generators are larger batteries that charge using solar panels. These generators come in different capacities and are available online. Make sure you buy one that includes panels or know what kind of panels you need if you purchase them separately.

Community Solar

Want to make a bigger commitment to solar energy without installing a rooftop system? Community solar programs offer you the chance to lease a part of an existing solar power array. Projects find available land and build solar farms. Then, leasing options are made available to community members who pay a monthly fee for part of the energy produced by the solar farm. This means once you are a project member, you get to use some of the electricity produced by the offsite solar panels to power your home.

Community solar offers annual electric bill savings potential for members and the satisfaction of knowing your membership benefits the environment and supports clean energy. If you are interested in finding a community solar project near you, several aggregate websites are available to search for projects in your area. EnergySage is one national community solar search site partnered with the Department of Energy.

Whether you’re looking to make small changes around your home or thinking of a community solar membership, adding some solar power to your energy usage doesn’t have to break the bank. You can utilize solar power in several creative and low-cost ways. So, the next time you’re wondering how you can help support clean energy and take your electric bill down a bit, think about taking advantage of some of these solar options. You don’t have to break the bank to make use of solar.