Can Solar Energy Be An alternative Energy Source?
July 15, 2010 by hselinkvine
Filed under Solar Energy
For very long time fossil fuels such as coal and oil have been the only sources of our energy consumption. But, in the last few years people have become aware of what effect the constant use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil is doing to our environment and want a cleaner, greener future. The obvious choice is alternative solar energy because this type of energy is self-renewing and creates no pollution. The sun in fact can produce sufficient energy to power the universe fully. So why is not everyone using alternative solar energy to power his or her households? Mainly because the technology is too costly at this point in time, but as new technologies develop and fossil fuels get more scarce and expensive, people will see that clean energy is a much cheaper and viable option.
Alternative solar energy is the ideal choice for making full use of the sun’s power. As long as the sun is bright enough to read a book or write your journal, it is in fact bright enough to radiate alternative solar energy. Many people only think that solar energy can be utilized as a power source in places where it is hot and always sunny. This is not actually the case – it does not actually matter how hot it is, you just require the brightness of the sun for this energy alternative. Solar heating works in cold places as there is still some brightness from the sun.
As mentioned above a enormous amount of energy is produced by the sun’s rays, but it is tough to use this energy to its full potential due to the high costs involved in introducing a new technology. There is a significant amount of research and development in finding ways to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The current system that is in place is not affordable for most people, and the process of turning solar energy into electrical energy currently means that energy is actually lost in the process. If you are keen in using alternative solar energy and plan to introduce it slowly into your forms of energy consumption, you can. You could install a solar collector on your roof and this will absorb sufficient sun’s rays to heat water. The hot water can be stored in a container and then be used for cooking and showers.
Another way that you can apply alternative solar energy is by using a solar collector to heat your swimming pool. Many people set up a solar collector on the roof of their garage or pool-changing shed and you can heat your pool by harnessing the sun’s rays, hence allowing you to swim in your pool during the colder months as well without getting a cold.
All in all there are quite a number of alternative solar energy technologies that are available to help reduce the amount of fossil fuels used. But suppliers of conventional fuel and electricity are not in favour of alternative energy options because they view them as uneconomic. It is up to you to choose if you want to continue to use traditional fossil fuels and damaging the environment in the long run, or are willing to make some changes to the way you consume energy and live in a clean, green world free of terrible pollutants.
Books You Might Enjoy:
The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living)The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the ... Read More >
Done in the Sun: Solar Projects for ChildrenIn easy-to-read and easy-to-do style, Anne Hillerman gives us a wonderful how-to book for children ages 6 and up. The book teaches the basic principle... Read More >
THE Passive Solar Energy Book (Expanded Professional Edition)687687-page Expanded Professional Edition of The Passive Solar Energy Book is comprehensive. Includes 5 Solar Radiation Calculators which are transparencies used to determine the amount of energy striking a surface. Noted author is an architect acclaimed in the field of solar energy.
Solar Water Heating: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)Heating water with the sun is almost as old as humankind itself, and it is done all over the world. Yet there are strangely few resources on the to... Read More >
Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar CellsPractical Photovoltaics, the now-classic reference on solar electricity, offers a unique combination of technical discussion and practical advice. Phy... Read More >
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