You want to save on your electricity bill. You want to do your part to help our environment. You want to know more about the types of solar power and how you can use it in your home. But it sounds complicated doesn't it? It doesn't have to be.

You don't have to set out to save the whole environment all at once. Every little step that you take to reduce your carbon footprint and to incorporate alternative forms of energy in your day-to-day life makes a difference. If everyone took those little steps, they'd add up to giant steps and before you know it we'll have saved the world from global warming, reduced carbon emissions, slashed energy prices...

Okay maybe not all of the above, but we can slash our own energy costs and give the environment a helping hand at the same time.

There are different uses of solar power that we can take advantage of, some you may already use and some could be implemented easily, others are a bit more difficult and costly but not as out of reach as you might think. The main types of solar energy that we use are passive, collectors, photovoltaic ( solar cells), and photoluminescent. You may already use some of these without even thinking about them as "solar" energy suppliers.

Do you hang your laundry on a clothes line? That's an easy use of passive solar energy. You are using the renewable energy from the sun instead of running an electricity or gas-powered appliance. Another use of passive solar energy is a greenhouse or a conservatory that collects heat. This is using solar heat, not generating power that is converted to another use but by using that heat you are not using other sources of energy.

Collectors are another use of solar heat. These are commonly used to heat water for home use and pools. These are an easy system to build and quite an effective method for harnessing the heat from the sun for your own use.

Photoluminescent items store solar energy and release it later, when it is dark or they are turned on. Some outdoor and emergency lighting uses this technology.

Photovoltaic are solar cells. These are the ones you may think of most often when you think of solar energy. The cells convert the energy from the sun into electricity to power a range of things. They are used in watches and calculators. They are what power your outdoor garden lights. They are what make up solar panels that can power RV appliances, street lights or light up your home. They are versatile enough to power a solar fountain in your yard to providing power for your electric lights.

Using solar energy in your home doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition. Start out small, maybe with outdoor lighting, and soon you'll be wanting to learn how to build your own solar panels to help power your workshop or heat your pool.

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