A Glowing Future For Solar Power: A Replacement Power Source

By Author: Erik Lawrence
Total Articles: 1
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Solar energy is the light and the heat from the Sun. This energy is free, unlimited and, it doesn't cause any pollution, which makes it the perfect source of power. With the availability of low priced uncomplicated to install DIY solar systems, right now there has practically never been a better time to take full advantage of this tremendous, inexhaustible energy source.There are several ways in which we are able to grab the power of the sun. In hot countries for example, solar furnaces can be used as means of cooking food. A solar furnace is merely a huge array of mirrors used to focus the Sun's power into a small area and produce high temperatures. They are usually referred to as solar cookers.The movie 'Race the Sun' was a story concerning low- income and under achieving Hawaiian students, persuaded by their teacher to partake in the Solar Car Race. In the film, an automobile in the shape of a cockroach and covered with solar energy panels used the Sun's rays as an alternative power source to run the automobile. Since Roman times we have been using the Sun to provide a source of power. Nowadays however we've created solar ...
... energy systems that can easily be put to use for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation. Solar energy may also be used to distil water and even turn saline or brackish water into something that is drinkable. Solar water disinfection or SODIS as it is generally known, involves subjecting water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate or PET containers to the Sun, whereby UV-radiation destroys diarrhoea producing pathogenic agents. The SODIS-method helps to defend against diarrhoea and and in so doing is saving lives of many people. Over 4000 children die every single day from the impact of diarrhoea. Using this method does depend on climatic conditions, but since the main need for water is within hot countries this is where this system is most effective. Right now, there are well over two million people in developing countries who depend upon SODIS for their day-to-day drinking water requirements. Daylight systems are also being utilized to optimize the power released by the sun. A Daylight System is used to provide interior illumination, and thus replacing the requirement for artificial lighting. Daylight systems include sawtooth roofs, , skylights, and light tubes. When daylight systems are correctly applied they are able to cut down lighting-related energy consumption in most cases by 25 %. One of the fastest expanding areas pertaining to the use of solar power is in the use of photovoltaic or PV panels which can be employed to convert the sun's rays into electricity. Originally solar energy was only utilized to power small appliances and instruments, such as calculators that had been run from a single solar cell. Even though water and space heating have become the most commonly used applications of solar energy, the growth of photovoltaic technologies now means that an increasing number of families are employing solar energy to provide either a big percentage or all of their energy needs.One of the main concerns linked to the usage of solar powered energy for residential properties has been the cost of fitting this type of system. Thousands of dollars were needed just to pay for setting up a fairly simple system. Nowadays however, the availability of DIY solar energy materials, and indeed complete kits, has meant that excellent systems may well be installed for mere 100's of dollars.