Green and alternative energy mechanisms have been all over the news for some time now. We see articles and advertisements primarily for solar heated and cooled homes and businesses, solar panels and wind generators, along with the well-known solar-powered watches. However, we use electricity for much more than heating and cooling our houses and offices or for accessing the time of day.
Are you aware of the vast array of solar-powered products available in today's market that have not yet been picked up by mainstream advertisers? If not, you may be in for an unexpected surprise as you discover the many gizmos and gadgets that have been developed to operate solely on the power of the sun. Free energy power can be utilized in small doses as well as large ones.
Patio Umbrellas
Imagine planning a romantic outdoor dining experience for you and the love of your life. Perhaps you wish to prepare a delectable meal on the private and spacious deck at the back of your home to bring in Valentine's Day - at midnight! Will you use an army of fragrant candles? Maybe not - an exuberant wind gust could possibly extinguish those beautiful candles in a hurry and ruin your carefully orchestrated ambiance. For a guaranteed light source, you could perhaps run electrical extension wires through the kitchen, out the back door and connect to a lamp or two, taping them along the floor with duct tape to avoid tripping. But this would not necessarily be as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as you might prefer.
However, there is an alternative. You could purchase a solar-powered umbrella for your patio table that would not only provide sufficient lighting for this special engagement but would also allow you to easily enjoy the same night-time atmosphere with family or friends on any night of your choosing!
These umbrellas are absolutely amazing, and they are constructed in various ways to harness the sun's energy. Some consist of LED lights that are embedded into the underside of the upper poles that support the umbrella. The LED lights are charged during the day by thin, high-tech solar panels which are mounted on top of the umbrella. Once night falls, you have a unique light source that can add a nice warm glow to all of your get-togethers. I think this is a neat little invention that would be a perfect fit for those of us who like to do evening entertaining under the stars.
Mosquito Repellent
The stars may be beautiful above, but the mosquitoes can be quite annoying below. Not to worry - just grab your solar-powered mosquito repeller and keep it nearby. This cute but practical little item is small enough to carry on your key chain, yet powerful enough to provide an invisible deterrent to that flying, blood-thirsty nuisance that can almost destroy an outdoor party.
The repeller combines advanced solar engineering technology with electronic circuitry to produce a specially calibrated mosquito repelling ultrasonic frequency. The ones I have seen advertised provide protection within a five meter radius. As long as your nifty repeller has been fully charged during the day, the built-in rechargeable battery guarantees enough power to let you enjoy the festivities through the wee hours of the morning, if you so desire.
Light Up Your Home Address
To make sure that your guests are able to easily locate your party, there is a product called a solar-powered house number light. I don't think I am the only one who, at one time or another, has had difficulty finding someone's residence on a dimly lit street in the thick of night. If there had been one of these on the house that I was trying to find, I would have made it to their home much more quickly and under much less stress.
The house number light consists of a flat weatherproof panel with numbers approximately four inches tall that are clearly visible up to 500 feet away. One and one-half hours of sun can keep this panel glowing all night, and it can be attached either to the front of your house or, if you have one, to a stand-alone mailbox installed near the edge of your property.
Find More Solar Gizmos and Doo-Dads
Now that you have been introduced to a few more unusual ways to use solar power, why not investigate other items that would be practical, earth-friendly, and cost-effective? We can make use of nature's power sources in small ways without having to make huge investments. Keep your eyes open when scanning magazines or surfing the internet. You can give items like these to individuals for whom it is difficult to find gifts. Make use of these new inventions while knowing that you, too, can contribute to the health of our planet.