Solar energy is the future. The number of solar homes has grown by 33% each year since 2007. Solar energy now produces more than 121 gigawatts of energy annually.
And yet, far too often, when people think of home solar panels they think of a short, squat, boxy structure with some weird shapes sticking out of the top.
What people don’t realize is that solar homes are also aesthetic homes. To help remedy this misconception, here are some examples of aesthetic homes that are powered by solar energy.
1. La Hacienda (Ponferrada, Spain)
Looking at the luxury and traditional elegance of La Hacienda in Ponferrada, Spain, you’d never guess it’s powered by home solar panels. In fact, this home for a family of five is powered by a solar power system of 7 THERMOSLATE collectors. These collectors cover an area of 7.84 m2.
These THERMOSLATE collectors are powerful enough to provide 76% of the home’s energy needs. This is used for heating, hot water, and heating an in-ground swimming pool.
La Hacienda saves an average of 580 liters of fossil fuel each year with its solar array. This is enough to prevent 1.5 tons of CO2 each year.
If you’re looking into installing solar panels for homes and would like to estimate how much you could save, you can estimate savings here.
2. Solar Home in Isabella, Minnesota
Solar homes don’t necessarily have to look futuristic. They can, however. It’s even more enticing when solar home aesthetics combine traditional styles and building materials with modern innovations like solar panels for homes.
This solar-powered home, located in Superior National Forest, is a testament to the power and efficacy of solar power. It faces the most intense extreme weather conditions in every direction. In the winter, temperatures can reach as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The summers can be sweltering, as well.
These extreme conditions have inspired experimentation with other modern innovations, as well, especially in dealing with heating and cooling. The home features a 92-panel heat collector vacuum on the house’s south side. It also has a solar-powered heat recovery ventilation system, that collects and expels heat on hot days.
They’ve also experimented with heat storage solutions to deal with this unique climate. The house sits on top of 9000 cubic feet of sand and taconite.
Let this serve as an example of how solar panels and solar energy can work in tandem with other modern technological innovations to make a home as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible.
Solar power and renewable energy are only going to become more and more important as we continue to evolve, as a society, to a green, more sustainable future!
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Our homes are our castles. It’s where we can feel most ourselves, where we can express our values and make our space as close to ideal as possible.
Now that you’ve seen how even aesthetic homes can be sustainable and eco-conscious, browse the rest of our site for even more design ideas and inspiration!