Pollution and burning fossil fuels is causing a real
problem throughout the world – environmental concerns are a big
issue right now. However, there is a solution already available, it’s
just a case of more people needing to take advantage of it and
utilize it to its best potential.
Solar power has been around for quite a long time now.
It was many years ago that researchers and scientists perfected solar
energy generation, but it hasn’t really been pursued properly until
more recently. With technological advancements solar power is
becoming more widely accessible and so more and more people are
starting to use it.
One of the biggest issues has always been cost. Like with any new technology – it takes a while for it to be perfected and while it’s being perfected, it’s usually quite expensive. As the technology improves, the costs usually reduce for the consumer.
There are
many reasons to use solar energy. Here are some facts to get yourself
more acquainted with the idea…
- Albert
Einstein received a
Nobel Prize
in 1921
for his
experiments on
photovoltaic and solar
power. -
Silicon from a
ton of
sand can
be used
in photovoltaic
panels to generate
the same
amount of
electricity that a
500,000 T
of burning coals
can produce. - 10,000 US
households are
now using
solar energy to
power their
homes. -
John Herschel (British
Astronomer) was
able to cook
food by using
solar power
200 years
ago during
his African
journey. - In 1982,
the first
large scale
power plant
was opened
in California. - If you
can use
solar power in
your home’s
heating system, you
can slash
the electric
bill by 50%. -
In the last
thirty years,
the price
of solar panels
has dropped
considerably by
at least
200%. Solar
power kits
can now
be purchased
from $200-$500. -
In the year
2000, USDOE
claimed that
solar power
is almost
perfect (99%)
in San Francisco;
since California
gets a
lot of
sunlight, 200
megawatts of
green electricity can
be generated
if all the
rooftops of
county buildings and
homes are
covered with
PV panels. By
including school buildings,
an added 1,500
megawatts are
achievable. The
generated power
is enough
to cover
the city’s
electrical needs
during an
entire day.
-
Germany is now
using solar power despite
its undesirable
climate. The
energy generated
during sunny days
is stored in
batteries. - Energy
from the
sun travels
for approximately
8 minutes
to reach
Earth.
Solar power is a very interesting topic but if you want
to try it out then it’s a good idea to start with solar power kit.
They are affordable and easy to install for DIY folks. You can
probably get everything that you need from a local hardware store –
making it truly accessible. You will solar energy kit guides which
are easy to understand for even beginners. However, it’s still a
good idea to make sure you buy from only trusted suppliers and
reputable companies. There are also likely to be better warranties
when purchasing from a leading manufacturer. Some even last up to 15
years.
Solar
power isn’t all about sunlight. These days, even if you live in a
relatively crappy climate, you can still take advantage of the
benefits of solar energy. It’s a free and clean energy and after
your initial investment it can seriously reduce your energy costs and
save you hundreds of dollars over the years.
