Solar Panels Aren’t Just for Humans

Though usually, dogs are inside with us, cuddling warm and cozy in our laps, many people also have dog houses outside, so that their dog companions have their very own space to call home. Between two-way cameras and plush furniture, the future of dog houses is bright, allowing man’s best friend to truly live as man does. However, even with all these neat additions to your dog’s house, the priority number one for any dog house is safety. If you’re not home during bad weather - whether it’s hot or cold, stormy or dusty - Fido needs a safe, comfortable place to take shelter in until your return. Because of that, solar energy has also entered the world of canines.

How Solar Energy Works on a Dog House

First thing’s first, get that dog house insulated. Just like with your own home, thin walls allow heat to escape in the winter and cold to escape in the summer. On top of that, not having a properly insulated home (or dog house) means you’ll be wasting more energy trying to keep it warm or cool as the air just escapes. Also just like with your own home, it can be insulated in much the same way. Placing vapor barriers, foam, and plywood on the walls is step one. Placing a platform made from plywood beneath the dog house is step two for keeping it from getting wet and allowing pests in. You can place paper, plastic, or bubble wrap on the roof and ceiling.

After Fido’s house is insulated, the next step is the solar power itself. Just like with our homes, there are multiple ways to do it.

Installing Solar Power on a Dog House

The first way of harnessing solar energy is through passive solar power. This would basically mean your dog house would function as a greenhouse. Heat would get trapped in the insulation. Then, at night, you would cover the greenhouse portion (I.e. the places with insulation) to keep it in all night. When it gets hot, you’d leave it covered to keep out the sun and let it stay cool.

However, if you want serious solar energy for your dog, you can get solar panels installed on the roof just like on the roof of any human-sized home. The panel would align with the sun and collect the light. The energy would then funnel into a tub filled with water that would be used to heat up the pad built into the floor of a dog house and keep it warm. The water could also heat up another water source just for your dog when it’s cold. You could even install an A/C and/or heater into the dog house so that it could power those up depending on the weather. And if you have an auto treat or food dispenser, it could power those up. It could also power up fans if you don’t want to invest in a full-blown A/C system, plus it could power up the cameras you use to watch your pet and make sure it’s okay when you’re gone. Power your two-way doggo camera with the sun, don’t worry about the electric bill, and be assured knowing they’re safe no matter where you are!

Want to learn more tips and tricks for integrating solar into your life? Check out the HahaSmart blog for more information!

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