With the technological advances of recent times combined with peoples’ desire to protect the environment, it is unsurprising that many people have decided to try their hand at “living green.” One such way that this is accomplished is by switching from traditional electricity to solar power. People understand how expensive it can be to use traditional electricity and as the population continues to increase, power bills are going to become even more expensive than they are now. Switching to solar power is a wonderful, renewable alternative to using electricity, and though it is not free to switch, it is much more inexpensive and dependable. One way to switch to solar power in an affordable way is with DIY solar power systems.

DIY solar power systems provide electricity to an individual’s house by utilizing the energy produced by the sun. The equipment needed to create a solar cell is inexpensive and easily purchased, and people only need to invest hours into creating their cells. DIY solar panels can be made to fit any home, and are perfectly capable of running all electronic devices in an individual’s home. The size of the cell created determines the amount of energy produced- people can create a cell capable of running a single coffee pot, or their entire house.

Among the easiest DIY solar power to make is the dye-reactive cell. These cells can be personalized in the sense that they can be incredibly simple or inexplicably complicated, depending on what the person in question wishes to build. The most simple of these cells require glass and common fruit dyes. These dyes can be created at home by smashing fruit or vegetables and straining the liquid: that is the most basic of dyes. Glass slides are also needed, and these can be purchased, or created from home. Electric plates, plastic or glass bowls, and copper are the only equipment necessary to create a simple DIY solar cell. There are a myriad of sites online that explain how to construct a dye-reactive cell.

Salt water solar cells are more complicated to create, though not impossible. They are easier to customize than dye or other kinds of DIY solar cells, though they require more time and research to build. Again, the materials needed are easily purchased and most of that equipment can be found around an individual’s home.

Regardless of the kind of cell that someone wishes to purchase, DIY solar power systems are affordable and effective.