If you’re looking into a solar energy system for your business, you’re probably envisioning a system that can power the lights and your HVAC system to hedge against fluctuating energy costs. However, you may be wondering what else a solar energy system can do for you. When it comes to solar energy, don’t be afraid to think big! In this post, we’ll explore some of the lesser-known but powerful energy problems a solar energy solution can address.
Solar Water Heaters & Pumps
If your building requires hot water throughout the day, a solar water heater offers an optimal solution. They can meet all or most of your hot water demand on solar energy alone. Hot water is supplied by solar thermal panels and held in storage tanks until needed.
Solar water pumps are also ideal for office spaces, industrial buildings, and even land up to two acres. Solar electric water pumps can deliver up to 10,000 gallons of water a day and can provide a full return on investment in three to seven years depending on your system.
Swimming Pools
Pools aren’t cheap to install and maintain. If your organization operates a swimming pool, solar pool heaters offer the possibility of maintaining pool temperature, running pumps, and powering other critical pool functions. By running these systems on solar power, you can substantially reduce the cost of ownership associated with a pool.
Power Plants
Believe it or not, conventional power plants can also benefit from utilizing solar energy. Since turbines require energy resources to heat water and run the turbines, solar panels offer an optimal choice, so nonrenewable energy isn’t consumed in the process of generating more power.
Ventilation Systems
Ventilation systems are critical for optimizing your building’s air flow. Chances are, your building utilizes one or more fan that’s continuously running. By hooking these fans up to a solar energy system, you can move air more efficiently throughout your building without increased electricity expenses.
Remote Power
Solar energy has become the premier choice for delivering power to remote locations. Common applications include:
- TV and radio broadcast repeaters
- Transportation signaling (offshore buoys, lighthouses, warning lights)
- Road traffic signals
- Monitoring equipment for pipelines and bridges
In most geographic locations, solar energy systems offer a reliable, year-round energy source while requiring little to no maintenance. At the same time, solar energy systems can be deployed quickly and cost-effectively, making it an ideal solution for generating and delivering power just about anywhere you need it.
Solar Desalination
Solar energy offers new ways to cost-effectively deploy desalination technology in areas with seawater, brackish water, or contaminated water. By using thermal and solar desalination strategies, the overall cost of desalination can be reduced to deliver clean, safe water where it’s needed most. And with the possibility of smaller, portable systems, solar desalination offers a number of opportunities, commercial and humanitarian alike.
Interested in exploring how much more solar can do for your organization? Contact the solar experts at Verogy today. We’ll work with you to understand your goals and deploy a solar energy system optimized for your needs.
