Solar Energy – A Green Energy Source

A very popular and most commonly known green energy source is solar energy. Much of the popularity stems from the fact the technology is within the financial reach of many homeowners. Part of the popularity is because the energy is renewable and using it for the generation of electricity does not harm the environment. Solar cells capture the suns rays and those rays are converted to power. A solar array can be mounted on a roof and the power generated can be used to supplement your existing power source.The three ways that solar energy is used are: using photovoltaic cells, active and passive. When you use passive solar, you are not converting the energy. You are merely directing it to the use you want. It is staying in the same form that it arrived inthe suns rays. What you are doing is capturing the heat or light from those rays to help heat space or supplementing your lighting using a variety of windows, light tunnels, etc. It is the design of the building that optimizes the use of the sun. Studies show that this optimization can significantly reduce the heating costs of a building. Using design to capture the suns rays means that you do not require as much electricity since your heating and air-conditioning units are running less often, which results in a cost saving on your power bills. Denver Roofing . Imagine if everyone did this!Using active solar converts the suns rays into heating or electrical energy by using processing. Since it relies on mechanical or conventional power to process the energy, you are still using fossil fuels. Active solar has limitations and is usually used on a relatively small scale. Photovoltaic cells can be used on a small or large scale to produce electricity from the suns light. This technology can power something as small as a calculation or something as large as a large complex. The array needed for a large complex requires a large area of land. The limitation of using solar energy is that is totally reliant of the weather. While energy can be harnessed when the sun is shining and the skies are clear, no energy can be harnessed at night or in inclement weather. When the system is not generating power, the energy needed is used from stored reserves or conventional power. There is a very popular solar car race that students compete in on a global basis. NASA (National Aeronautical Space Administration) uses solar panels to power satellites that they have launched into space. Several airports have implemented solar panels and are now harnessing this green energy to reduce costs. One kw of solar energy will produce 5 hours of electricity a day. More electricity will be generated when more solar panels are used. If there is adequate storage for the electricity, the electricity generated can last for days. There are many forms of green energy sources and solar energy is just one of them. Technology allows us to harness and utilize safe, clean, renewable sources of green energy that include biomass, wind, geothermal heat, water, and solar. All of these can and do help us reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.In order for us to make a massive difference, politicians have to climb on board and develop the political will to make a dramatic change. While they often talk the talk, few walk the walk. Very little changes are actually made.Countries like Germany and Japan have embraced solar energy. The governments have been proactive in encouraging the citizens to utilize solar, which has substantially decreased both countrys dependency on fossil fuels. The US is not among the top 10 countries embracing solar power. When will they climb aboard the green energy train?

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