The image of a large, dark-blue panel atop a rooftop supplying solar-powered electricity is now familiar. Though relatively few homes have them, thousands of magazine stories have been written over the past 30 years accompanied by photos depicting them. Because of their relative rarity, such systems have become regarded as ‘the wave of the future’, with that future always just out of reach. The sticking points are always solar energy panels cost and efficiency.

Fortunately you can find dozens of cost-effective solar panels on the market today that are incredibly efficient.

A great example of solar energy is solar powered lawn lights. If you haven’t seen these they typically have stakes about a foot long with lights mounted on top of the stake. On the top of the plastic or copper light casings are small solar energy panels. Since the panels are typically small they usually don’t generate a great amount power, but not much is needed for them to do the job. Since these lights require no wires they can be quickly placed anywhere as well as moved for lawn maintenance. The nice thing is that since they use no batteries and the bulbs are ultra-long lasting they can last for years without any maintenance.

Calculators that are purely solar powered have been in use for decades now. But that same technology has recently been expanded to encompass laptops. Though they don’t currently generate enough power to run a standard hard drive or monitor, solar power has been combined with new inventions to make that unnecessary. They use something called organic cells.

Standard solar cell uses layered wafers of silicon doped with phosphorus. Yet other elements, and more complex molecules, are also subject to the photoelectric effect. Many organic molecules will shoot off electrons when struck with light. While they’re not currently as efficient, they do make up for it by being flexible and inexpensive. These can be incorporated into certain inexpensive plastic alloys.

That makes it possible to make an affordable keyboard or monitor that can be folded or rolled-up. With this technology, it’s possible to roll up a computer like a newspaper and tuck it in your pocket. Then, it’s unrolled when you want to use it and powered by the available light.

Anything that is powered by battery has the potential to be powered by a solar system. Electrical fencing is one possibility. Regardless if you have a small dog that you want penned in or cattle, low voltage systems are often used to keep animals in check. Small electrical shocks typically wont hurt the animal but is sufficient to keep them from wandering outside the perimeter. Many animals can jump over standard fencing, but electrifying the system discourages the attempt.

Another possibility is boats since they need batteries to start the engine and run any small electrical devices when the motor is off such as running lights, speedometer and more. Just like typical batteries they need to be recharged. In most cases the motor will recharge the battery.

Clearly, however, this doesn’t always work given the number of battery chargers that are on the market. Since electrical outlets are not in plentiful supply out in the middle of a lake it might be next to impossible to recharge a battery when the motor does not work. In these cases solar powered chargers can come to the rescue when you need them the most.

That same charger can recharge the battery in your RV just as easily. But beyond that emergency use, a solar-powered system can be useful for an RV in lots of ways.

Generator often give RV’s power when the motor has been turned off. However, generators are typically noisy and need either gasoline or diesel fuel which is messy and smelly. This might not be your ideal situation when trying to enjoy the outdoors. Solar powered systems can supply at least part of the energy needed however it can easily run a radio, a DVD and/or TV, or a small refrigerator.

The great thing is that you can rely on solar power for more than electricity. Heating your water is another popular home-oriented application for solar power.

Small parabolic dishes can be used to focus the sun’s energy into a small area. That energy is then transmitted to a water storage system. Not all such systems are solely for inside the house either. The hot water supplied can be used to bathe the dogs outside or provide an alternative to washing the car with cold water.

Warm water is typically better for cleaning and makes any outdoor washing chore easier. Solar heating systems provide a reservoir of warm water to wash the exterior of the windows, supply a sink in the garage and other uses around the house and garage.

Solar energy panels systems today are more efficient and lower cost than ever. They provide freedom from dependence on the utility companies for all your electrical and hot water needs. That makes them a good deal.

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