Solar Energy Fundamentals
When the documentary
"An Inconvenient Truth" was released
in the United States in May, 2006, there has
been a renewed awareness about the negative
effects of global warming. Part of the information
campaign to save the Earth is understanding
how renewable energy sources can help alleviate
the environmental crisis. Solar energy is
one such renewable energy source. To have
a deeper understanding of the concept, take
a look at the following solar energy fundamentals.
Solar energy is basically the energy coming
from the sun. The sun is the primary source
of energy which gives life to all living organisms
on Earth, which is also a factor that makes
it the best source of renewable energy. Wind,
water and plants all take their cue from the
sun as they are powered by this natural energy
source. The light and heat coming from the
sun can be 'gathered' in various ways to be
able to produce solar energy. With the enormous
power of this energy source, there should
be more than enough energy to fulfill our
energy needs, if only the resource will be
gathered and used effectively.
Now, to have an idea of the numerous applications
of solar energy, here is a quick list as well
as a brief description of each. First, solar
energy is widely used in agricultural and
horticultural applications. Without ample
sunlight, the plants that you have in your
backyard or lawn will die. This is because
sunlight is necessary in the Photosynthesis
process, where light energy is converted into
chemical energy that helps produce the 'food'
needed by plants to thrive. In horticulture,
solar energy is used by modern greenhouses.
Here, huge glass panels are used to gather
the energy from the sun to be able to provide
the sunlight needed by plants to survive.
Secondly, solar energy is used in modern architecture,
be it residential or commercial. As mentioned
earlier, solar energy is a renewable form
of energy which is also environment-friendly.
Thus, if you are planning to have a house
built, it is better to invest in a good solar
panel to provide lighting and heating for
your home. Aside from its obvious environmental
benefits, a solar lighting and heating system
in residential and commercial buildings are
also more cost effective in the long run.
In the same vein, solar energy can also be
used in water heating, cooling and ventilation
systems. Just imagine the amount of money
that you will save by using panels instead
of electricity from the power outlets if you
can use solar energy for these purposes. Solar
energy can also be used in cooking, disinfection,
desalination, generation of electricity, energy
storage, solar vehicles and a lot more.
As a final note, the heat and light being
given off by the sun may be something that
a lot of people ignore. However, once you
learn about the numerous applications and
the wide array of benefits of using solar
energy, you will surely appreciate solar energy
and look at it from an entirely different
light.
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