Facts about Solar Energy

What is Solar Energy?

Credit for solar energy should go to the sun, since that is where it all comes from. Only a small portion of the energy radiated by the sun strikes the earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous. Every day enough energy strikes the United States to supply the nation's energy needs for about one and a half years. . . But where does all of this energy go? Roughly 15 percent of the sun's energy that hits the earth is reflected back into space and about 30 percent is used to evaporate water, producing rainfall. The rest of the solar energy is absorbed by plants, land, oceans and to supply our energy needs.

Storing Solar Heat:

Solar heating systems must have some way to store the heat that is collected on a sunny day to keep people warm at night or on cloudy days.

In active solar homes, heat can be stored in one of two ways- a large tank filled with liquid can be used to store the heat, or rock bins beneath a house can store the heat by heating the air in the bins.

Some houses with active or passive solar heating systems have backup systems such as furnaces, wood-burning stoves, or other heat producing devices. These provide heat during extremely cold temperatures or long periods of cold or cloudy weather.

Solar energy and the Environment:

Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution, and it is a free and widely available energy source. Manufacturing the photovoltaic cells to harness that energy, however, consumes silicon and produces some waste products. In addition, large solar thermal farms can harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed. Most people agree, however, that solar energy, if it can be harnessed economically, is one of the most viable energy sources for the future.

Basic and interesting facts about solar energy:

-- Solar energy reaches earth from the sun through its rays.
-- Energy from the sun comes in the forms of light and heat.
-- The term solar energy refers to the use of energy from the sun.
-- Solar power more specifically refers to the utilization of the sun's energy for electricity.
-- Solar thermal technology makes use of the sun's heat.
-- Photovoltaic (PV) technologies convert light from the sun into electricity.
-- Solar thermal technology can also create electricity by creating steam to power generators.
-- The use of solar energy does not cause greenhouse gas emissions.
-- In 1990, a solar powered airplane flew across the U.S.
-- During the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci already had plans for solar concentrators in his notebooks.
-- In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.
-- Active solar systems can heat both your home and your water.
-- Solar Energy demand has grown at about 30% per annum over the past 15 years.
-- Did you know that solar energy is dependent upon nuclear power? Solar Energy's nuclear power plant, though, is 93 million miles away.
-- The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year. That is a disturbing fact as the world has become dependent on oil for much of its heating and transportation needs.
-- Passive solar system do not require any panels to take advantage of the energy the sun provides if you have good southern exposure.
-- Once it is installed operating a solar system is very inexpensive. Energy from the sun is free!
-- Solar energy can be used to heat water, dry clothes, heat swimming pools, power cars, and many more uses.
-- With solar energy if there is a power outage you still have electricity.
-- When you use solar energy you are making your home independent. You do not need to depend on foreign or other sources of energy which can raise their costs quickly. Solar energy is getting cheaper to install. Cost of materials such as a solar panel have actually decreased in recent years. Tax incentives and rebates from the government have encouraged more people to look into installing solar for their homes. This is true in the new construction market as well, as home builders look for ways to help make homes more energy efficient for their buyers.
-- A typical solar panel can only convert about 15% of the sunlight that hits it into electricity.
-- In the duration of 15 minutes, the Sun supplies us with enough electricity to last a year!
-- The sun is 93,000,000 miles away from the Earth but still provides enough energy to power our cities!
-- Sunlight travels at 186,282 miles per second, and takes about 8 minutes to reach the Earth