Basic Facts About Solar Energy
The facts about solar energy are really pretty basic and easy to understand. Although there are pros and cons to solar energy, the advantages of solar energy are many and the negatives few. Solar energy efficiency is high, and it is a “clean” fuel, meaning that it puts off no harmful by-products like other fuels do. Start-up costs can be $5 or $5,000, meaning that it is within the reach of every homeowner.
But to really remove solar energy facts from fiction, we only have to answer 2 simple questions:
- What is solar energy?
- How does solar power work?
What Is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun in the form of solar radiation. Without going into a lengthy scientific discussion, that is the basic answer.
- Solar radiation reveals itself in two forms: heat and light
- Solar energy information hasn’t really changed in over 125 years
- Charles Fritts built the first solar cell in 1883, only 4 years after Thomas Edison created the first commercial electric light bulb
- Even the ancient Egyptians understood solar power and harnessed it through inventive building construction practices
How Does Solar Power Work?
Solar power works in one of two ways: passively and actively.
- Passive solar power: the sun coming in your window, providing heat and light that are immediately consumable without processing (just ask your cat!)
- Active solar power: solar power that is stored and used later (example: a rock that absorbs heat from the sun, later used by lizards and snakes to harness stored warmth)
Residential Solar Energy Applications
Okay, so we now know the basic facts about solar energy, but I can hear you already: “That’s great, but how is solar energy produced in a residential solar energy application? What components do I need to benefit from the advantages of solar energy?”
You need basically 4 things to use solar energy in your home:
- Photovoltaic panels (or solar thermal collectors) to collect the energy
- Batteries to store this energy
- A solar inverter to convert DC (direct current) electricity into usable AC (alternating current) for appliances and lights
- A charge controller to keep the batteries from overcharging
Obviously, there are wires and tubes and pipes, but that is the basic solar energy information in a nutshell.
Solar Power Kits: A Simple Solution
No, before you get worried about having to assemble parts and pieces, there are solar power kits that have all the components you need for various home solar power projects. Buy the kit online, call an electrician, no muss, no fuss, and you are in business.
Advantages of Solar Power at Home
Obviously, you wouldn’t be researching the facts about solar energy if you weren’t considering using these solar energy facts to your benefit in your own home. So let’s take a look at the many advantages of solar power use on the residential level.
- Savings you reap from implementing a solar energy plan (monthly savings are immediate)
- The U.S. government offers tax credits, and some local governments provide additional incentives
- Low cost of entry — you can start cheaply with a few solar garden lights and ramp up slowly, letting savings pay for future upgrades
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Ecological benefit — switching to solar power reduces our daily debilitating impact on Mother Earth.