More homeowners are creating a solar flair by installing sunlight-capturing panels or shingles on their homes. Powered by photovoltaic cells, the future for solar energy has never been brighter, says Dan Whitten, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) spokesperson, based in Washington, D.C.

"The case for solar has become increasingly strong as the United States' energy system has evolved," he says. "Solar energy is becoming more efficient to deliver, with fuel from the sun that is free, renewable and sustainable."

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have tried to harness the energy of the sun to warm their homes. But it wasn't until the 1970s -- through the technological development of photovoltaic cells fabricated into panels -- that solar energy began its modern residential ascension.

Photovoltaic (PV) or solar cells convert sunlight (or photons) directly into electricity (or voltage) that can be used as power. PV cells were initially manufactured using silicon (found in sand) after scientists discovered that the element released an electrical charge when exposed to sunlight.

"Today's solar energy isn't your grandparents' solar panels from the '70s. The last three years have seen tremendous growth in residential solar energy, thanks to technological advances," Whitten says. "In 2016, according to our data, 1 million solar units had been installed in the United States. In 2018, that number jumped to 1.7 million."

In 2020, every new construction project of single family homes in California will be required to have solar units built onto roofs. And while California is the first state to pass this mandate, it won't be the last to do so, says Jim Turner, spokesperson for RGS Energy, a Real Goods Solar Company, based in Denver. RGS Energy was one of the first solar panel installers in 1978 and, to date, has installed more than 25,000 solar power systems across the country.

"In 40 years, we've seen the cost of solar energy fall from $100 to $4 per kilowatt," Turner says. "The technology is such that solar modules have not only gotten smaller, but more efficient."

Solar panels that are rack-mounted are still the most prevalent way to capture solar energy. Panels may be ground-, rooftop- or wall-mounted, with a fixed mount or adjustable mount fitted with a solar tracker to follow the sun across the sky.

Nearly 10 years ago, Dow Chemical Company developed the first viable solar shingle system, called the Powerhouse. A solar shingle system is intermingled with conventional roofing materials and designed to combine the performance and protection of a conventional asphalt roof with an integrated photovoltaic system that powers the home.

RGS Energy has entered into an exclusive agreement with Dow to lead all commercial activities for the Powerhouse shingle system, including supply chain management, installation and warranty responsibilities. The third generation of Powerhouse shingles is expected to hit the market later in 2018, and Turner says it is a cost-effective option only with new roofing projects.

"Panels have become less clunky and have lower-profile rails, but some people want the seamless look that a solar shingle can provide," he says. "The more technical part of a solar power system is the efficiency with which the solar energy is converted into electricity."

Solar cells generate direct current (DC), giving off an electrical charge that flows in one direction into an inverter. The inverter converts the solar DC power into alternating current (AC), which is the prevalent electrical system used within homes.

A net energy meter keeps track of the all the power a home's solar system produces. Any solar energy not used simultaneously with production goes back into the electrical grid through the meter. When a home's solar power system is producing less than a user's needs, the home will consume electricity from the grid as normal. A home's utility bill will reflect the net consumption and provide a credit for any excess solar energy generated and not used during a given period.

But solar power systems don't always have their day in the sun and are reliant on exposure to direct sunlight, Whitten says. "Installing a solar power system in a home is as individual as the homeowner itself," he says. "Begin discussions with a reputable solar power system installer, and the company can tell you if your home is a good candidate for collecting solar energy and pricing."

When consulting a local, reputable solar company, consider the following:

-- Location, location, location. Check to see if your home is a good candidate for a solar energy system. Homeowners associations and local governments might also have restrictions about the types of solar power systems allowed. An unobstructed, sunny southern exposure yields high solar energy output.

-- Maintenance. Solar cell modules generally come with an industry-standard 20-year warranty, which guarantees panels will produce at least 80 percent of the rated power after 20 years of use. Ongoing maintenance includes keeping solar modules free of debris and snow.

-- Cost and incentives. Contact a reputable solar installer for a cost analysis to determine whether to lease or buy solar panels or solar shingles for your home. Factors are determined by weather, how a home is situated on a property and the amount of energy a household uses. Check into local and federal tax incentives available to homeowners that install solar power systems.

Advances in solar power technology and increased manufacturing scale have reduced costs, increased reliability and created greater efficiency of photovoltaic installations, Whitten says. "There are visionaries in the solar industry that dream of the day when our homes and automobiles will all be powered by the sun with zero emissions into the atmosphere," he says. "The share of solar energy is only going to grow with time."

A Place in the Sun

-- SEIA.org: Scroll to the Solar Energy Industries Association's "Where It's Happening" section and click "Explore the Map" for a list of reputable solar companies and statistics in your state.

-- RGSEnergy.com: Click "Solar Pricing" to receive a quote on solar power system options for your home.

Outdoor living areas can have it made in the shade through the use of canopies or awnings. Outdoor areas can be up to 15 degrees cooler when protected from the direct rays of the sun, says Ross Lederer, spokesman for Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company, based outside of Philadelphia, and maker of patio covers and enclosures.

"Covering a patio or deck with an awning or canopy can have a cocooning feel," he says. "Even though a patio or deck may not, technically, be a room outside your home, it can feel like one when it's covered."

Some may choose to cover an existing patio by building a permanent sunroom, which is a free-standing structure that often has glass walls and is attached to a home with a separate roofline. But for those who don't take a shine to extra building expenses, semi-permanent awnings, shade sails and canopies can be a way to throw some shade on construction costs.

A desire for shaded living areas outside a residence may have been around since there have been rock outcroppings over cave dwellings, but today's patio and pool coverings are both sleek and smart. "Today's patio cover options aren't your grandparents' canvas coverings," Lederer says. "Many times, patio coverings have retractable options with motorized screens that use fade-resistant fabrics."

During the mid-20th-century suburban boom, people began retreating from the front porch to the backyard. Entertaining on the patio and into the backyard became part of a lifestyle that is still popular today.

The patio is a concrete or paved area that is usually located in a home's backyard. While wooden decks tend to feel more like an extension of a house, a patio integrates more with the landscape, because it is built directly on the ground. Custom-built patios have evolved from mere concrete slabs into sophisticated outdoor rooms with retractable overhead options that allow a homeowner to choose when outdoor areas should have a shady or sunny disposition.

Awnings

These shade structures have a framework -- covered with a specially designed outdoor fabric -- that attaches to the home and extends over a doorway, deck or patio.

While older, wall-mounted-only awnings can have a limited shading scope, manufacturers such as Craft-Bilt have devised hybrid awnings that have a room-sized framework, which includes front legs to stabilize the structure over a patio or deck.

"The top of the awning can be retractable, which will preserve the life of the fabric," Lederer says. "The shade is set on a roller tube, which unrolls at the touch of a button. When you're ready to go inside, the awning easily rolls back up into its housing, which is mounted on the house."

Canopies

For stand-alone structures that seek shade, fabric canopies are a sunny selection. Pergolas are popular outdoor structures with columns that support an often open-roof grid of beams and are an ideal canopy companion.

"A canopy mounted under a pergola saves people from looking like a checkerboard, should they fall asleep with the sun shining through the upper latticework," Lederer says. "Canopies can also be installed to retract or have a Roman shade design that mounts under a structure."

Canopies can be fitted with built-in side curtains, which can add an element of privacy, as well as protection from the sun. A canopied structure can also offer more height clearance than a conventional awning.

Shade Sails

Based on ancient ways of using ship sails to shade outdoor areas or sailors in encampments, today's shade sails are a contemporary red-hot way of providing sun protection. Using modern tensile fabrics, shade sails are stretched between several anchor points to create cool covers, says Matthew Dickerson, owner of decade-old Tenshon, based in Mesa, Arizona.

"The idea of using shade sails as a way to cover outdoor areas at home really began taking off when people started to see these in public areas," Dickerson says. "Not only do people recognize that it is cooler under a sail shaded area, they also enjoy its aesthetic."

Instead of having to erect a large structure to shade a pool or patio, Dickerson says shade can be geometrically achieved by using strategically placed poles or anchor points onto which the edge of each shade sail is fastened. When pulled taut, these membranes become hyperbolic arcs soaring above areas that cast shadows and comfort below.

With the installation of a pool or patio cover, it is essential to not only compute the space to be shaded, but to also take into account the time of year and time of day the area will be used most often, Dickerson says.

"The sun is always moving across the sky -- not only from sunrise to sunset -- but also across the horizon with the seasons," he says. "When erecting an outdoor cover, you have to take into account how shadows will change throughout the day, and also throughout the year, for the best results in terms of coverage."

No matter which type of patio or pool cover is used -- awning, canopy or shade sail -- each should be a shadowy segue from the inside to the outside of a house. But, before installation can begin, Lederer says homeowners need to do their homework and check local building codes within their municipality or homeowner's association guidelines, or both.

"Even though these covers aren't technically building a room onto a house, these structures still have to endure strong winds and snow loads in colder climates," he says. "Aluminum or wood frameworks can also be manufactured to be installed on the back of a home in a first phase of what might ultimately become an enclosed porch or sunroom."

Cover Up

For design inspiration in patio covers, go to: CraftBilt.com.

To view an entire video library of shade sail installations, go to: Tenshon.com.

Modern Bohemian home decor has a look that is more hip and less hippie. While the 21st century's "Boho-chic" movement ascribes to a more-is-more philosophy by layering color, textures and textiles, it also borrows clean lines from the minimalistic movement, says Tamarra Younis, founder of Union of Art, a design firm with offices in New York City and Los Angeles.

"Today's Bohemian design in the home looks different than it did in the 1970s," Younis says. "There's very much of a midcentury modern influence, with a glamorous worldly mix of items from well-traveled individuals."

The term "Bohemian" was popularized in the 19th century and used to describe the nontraditional lifestyles of artists, writers and musicians in European cities. The Bohemian lifestyle, as it relates to decor, is about creating a layered, flowing energy in a home that is colorful and highly personal, Younis says.

"The Boho-chic design aesthetic also describes my own personal sense of style," she says. "With an English mother and Moroccan father, Boho-chic comes naturally to me and, at its core, is a marriage of styles, much like my parents' union."

While there can be a fine line between being cluttered and creating a classic Bohemian design, the key is to make sure the space is relaxing and inviting. "The Bohemian look is on the opposite end of the spectrum from a monochromatic, minimalistic design," Younis says. "Clear away nonessential items and choose something you can't live without in the space. Often, that will be the focal point, and design can easily flow from there."

Meaningful artwork, an heirloom piece of furniture or a colorful rug can serve as a Boho-chic base that anchors a room and serves as its design foundation. The basis of Boho-chic design is to invest in pieces -- chairs, lamps and pillows -- that can look at home anywhere within the house.

Open Space

The Boho-chic concept is about being open -- not only in terms of the physical space -- but also in terms of how the space is used.

"The energy just flows more freely in a home without walls," Younis says. "In a Bohemian home, it's not about defining a living room, a dining room, a family room. These communal rooms are meant to be open to use in whatever way best suits the need at the moment."

Colorful pillows aren't just made for sofas, they might also double as comfortable cushions on the floor. Chairs should easily move in order to create inviting and intimate spaces for conversation or collaboration.

Color and light

In a departure from the harvest gold and avocado green popularized in the 1970s Bohemian incarnation, the chic 21st-century version is not only simple, it's more sophisticated.

"Walls should be painted white, cream or gray," Younis says. "Neutral walls don't compete with the interesting layers of color and texture in a space."

A bright tip that illuminates a Boho-chic style home is to invest in task lighting. Younis says colorful lamps or hanging light fixtures will shed light on good design. Gold-colored accents are not only warm, but are also priceless in terms of creating a rich design palette.

Furnishings and artwork

The Boho-chic layering effect is built from the ground up through the use of graphically dynamic or richly textured rugs. "A rug can set the stage for what's happening in a space and can unify a color theme," Younis says. "A rug also provides comfort underfoot, which is essential in a Bohemian home."

While walls are painted in neutral tones, Younis invests in pillows and linens that have atomic oranges, cool blues and verdant greens. "There is a relaxed elegance and refinement in the details, such as trim fringing, tassels and macrame," Younis says. "These finishes connote both refinement and accessibility."

Back to Nature

The Bohemian looks to nature for design inspiration. The modern Boho-chic style incorporates natural elements layering wood, metal and stone. Bright and airy interiors invite natural light into a space through windows, skylights and doors.

Creating an environment that encourages outdoor living while also bringing the outside to the inside of a home is the epitome of the Bohemian way of life. Rooms literally come alive with green plants in macrame hangers or little succulent gardens in planters.

Well-traveled

Because this style is highly personal, there is no absolute Bohemian blueprint for design. A family heirloom, a worn Turkish rug and a one-of-a-kind, original artwork can live together in a Boho-chic home, and each piece has a story to tell, Younis says.

"A Boho-chic home embraces the unexpected and, at its core, is a reflection of those who may lead an unconventional life," she says. "Using intention and surrounding yourself with items you love -- whether it be from your travels, your family or a secondhand shop -- is the Bohemian way of transforming a house into a home."

Boho-chic Style

For design inspiration, visit Union-of-Art.net.