Turning the energy from the sun into a benefit for the homeowner is a fairly simple task for people who wish to take advantage of homemade solar energy. Black plastic hoses coiled in the heat of the day will heat the water inside to a temperature that will be more than needed to shower or warm a pool.

Making a box lined with aluminum foil will create an effective but slow grill or broiler for the barbecue as well. Not a great need for technological skill here, but try this in summer and amaze the neighbors!

The next step towards using homemade solar energy is nearly as simple. Thermal panels can be constructed from a black painted radiator set in a box facing the sun at an angle of 30?.

Copper tubes that have water slowly trickling through them are attached to the  rear of the radiator and with a small pump the heated water can be sent to a well insulated
storage tank for use within the home.

Showers, kitchen faucets and most washing purposes can be supplied on a continual basis even if the sun hasn’t been very strong for a day or so.

An even more effective form of homemade solar energy is the evacuated tube collection system, quite easy for the DIY enthusiast to attempt as a project. It is very similar to the flat plate collector to look at, but with a vacuum tube that has a heat conductor attached to more
efficiently trap any sun’s energy. The movement of water here is similar to a heat exchange system, and while certainly more expensive the energy can be stored and released more effectively.

The ultimate in homemade solar energy is to use a photo voltaic cell to produce electric power. This form of renewable energy is one of the cleanest and efficient with a truly environmental positive effect.

Simple systems using a little technical expertise will provide a substantial amount of the energy needs of a household during most of the year. The bigger the cells and the more that are linked together, then the greater potential for supply of a home’s needs.

Homemade solar energy will demand little alteration to the look or structure of the home.

Installation on the roof is an obvious site, but strengthening won’t be needed. The primary requirement is to avoid shade and the possible effect of overhanging tree branches.

Some people have been so proud of the look of the solar panels that they have incorporated them into sculptures on raised areas in the garden as evidence of their desire to be green pioneers.

The advances in systems for homemade solar energy have been striking in the last decade. No longer are these expensive toys for the enthusiast, but efficient and convenient ways to save on utility bills.
Previously the cells could be unreliable and dependent only on having strong sunlight which made them all but useless in the cold of a winter’s day. Now homemade solar energy is available nearly all year round, and at less than 50 per cent of the cost of a few decades ago.

Of course, if we consider that solar energy has been used for thousands of years to dry meat and grains for use out of season – then we can see that there is really little new under the sun after all.