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SALT LAKE CITY— Fewer daylight hours and grayer days don’t have to stop you from reaping the benefits of solar power in the winter. Although it may seem otherwise, this season is a great time to take advantage of solar energy, especially because it’s an ideal way to bring down those expensive winter electricity bills.
There are many areas of your life you can light up with solar power this winter, so take advantage of renewable energy with these five gadgets that are as fun as they are useful.
LE solar-powered LED fairy string lights
Decorative lights are a quintessential element of the holiday season, but they can really rack up your monthly power bill. Solar-powered fairy lights are a great way to still participate in the fun at an affordable price for your wallet and the environment.
Solar-powered lights also give you more freedom when it comes to placement because you’re not limited to areas close to an outlet, so you can get creative with your setup. This LE set comes with 55 inches of LED bulbs and operates in two brightness modes: flash and full brightness. They’re also waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about bad weather ruining your festive display.
Narvik solar-powered smart jacket
Narvik has created the world’s first “smart jacket.” These jackets rely on the stainless steel yarn weave of ThermalTech smart fabric, an innovative material that’s designed to capture energy from the sun, artificial light sources, and your own body heat to keep you warm.
Relying on this incredible technology, this jacket can raise your body temperature by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in only two minutes. This form of insulation is 25 percent more effective than standard jacket insulation and is also much slimmer, making these smart jackets ideal for serious warmth during winter recreation without the usual bulk.
LuminAID solar lantern
These nifty lanterns are inflatable and run on solar power, which means they’re great for people who love the outdoors and don’t want reduced daylight hours to infringe on their exploring. They’re light and compact, so you can tie them to your pack as you hike, use them to guide you while finding a place to cuddle up under the stars, or even rely on them during a power outage as an emergency light source.
Once they’re fully charged, these lights will last for up to 30 hours. They can illuminate an area up to 125 square feet and have four brightness settings. LuminAID is currently running a disaster relief campaign for victims of Hurricane Matthew through their Give Light, Get Light Package, so there’s never been a better time to invest in a cool, solar product.
iLoonger 14-in-1 solar robot
When the weather gets colder, kids spend more time playing indoors. Keep them occupied and learning about renewable energy, all while having a lot of fun, with this solar robot. It’s a DIY toy for kids that can be transformed into 14 different robot modes. It also comes with two different skill levels to engage both beginners and more advanced robot builders. All in all, this solar robot is a fascinating step toward making solar energy education more enjoyable for younger minds.
Solar-infra systems solar thermal air heater
Keep your house warmer without adding to your electricity bills with an affordable and green supplemental heat source. This heater is a great way to bring solar energy to your home without the bigger project of installing solar panels on your roof. All you need to do to use this system is place it inside a south-facing window.
If you have a holiday home you don’t live in regularly, such as a cabin, this is a simple and easy option for heat with no recurring costs. It also has slats, so natural light won’t be blocked from entering your home. Depending on your window and the amount of light that reaches the Solar-Infra heater, its performance is roughly equivalent to a 150–500-Watt electric heater, complete with an eco-friendly carbon footprint of zero.
Looking to the future
Solar gadgets, including solar panels, still thrive in the winter, so don’t let the thought of snow scare you away from solar energy. Winter is a great time to get started on environmentally-friendly resolutions for 2017. You could start by trying some of the products listed above, checking out more cool solar gadgets, or calculating how much money you could save long term with the installation of solar panels to your home. Whatever way you choose to make use of solar in your life, have a great winter and stay warm!
Brooke Nally is native to Utah but likes to see other parts of the world as often as she can. You can contact her at brookelynnally@gmail.com.
