| Solar energy is one of the most popular ways people | | | | things you are going to need to create your own solar |
| are trying to get electricity. There are many homes | | | | source. The thing you are trying to do here is capture |
| especially out in the western part of the United States | | | | the heat so that it will heat a liquid with a low boiling |
| in the desert, that already use solar power as a way | | | | point. This liquid will then transfer over to water where |
| to heat their home. Solar energy is a renewable | | | | the steam that is created can be used. It may sound a |
| energy source, which makes it a great way to get | | | | little complicated, but a couple of engineering classes |
| energy. It's natural and provides no emissions. To use | | | | could do the trick. |
| the sun as energy, there needs to be a solar power | | | | Come up with a design on paper before you begin |
| source. You can make your own solar source or you | | | | building the solar power source. You want to make |
| can purchase them. | | | | sure to generate and capture the most amount of |
| If you are considering making your own solar power | | | | heat. Aluminum works really well in the solar panel as |
| source, there are a few things you will have to learn | | | | well because it is metal but it also reflects the heat |
| first. The first thing is how solar energy actually works. | | | | onto other objects. If you have metal tubing going |
| One way solar energy works is by heating up a | | | | through the panel, the aluminum will help heat up the |
| transfer fluid with a low boiling point. This fluid then | | | | metal tubing. |
| heats up water to create steam that runs a generator. | | | | The steam generator can do all the electricity in the |
| From the generator you can run electricity or heat | | | | house and even heat your home and water. If you |
| your home. | | | | can't get your hands onto a steam generator, you can |
| There is also a photovoltaic cell that converts light | | | | still use the solar source as a way to heat water, |
| energy into electrical energy. This is what powers your | | | | which will still save money. Once you have created |
| calculator. If you are building your own solar source, | | | | your solar source, using metal, glass and dark objects, |
| you aren't going to be building a solar cell that creates | | | | you can place the solar source so that it is directly |
| a photovoltaic effect. | | | | going to heat water. Once the water is heated, it will |
| First, let's think of all the things that could be used as a | | | | be transferred into a hot water heater where it could |
| solar source. Consider all of the items that attract heat. | | | | stay warm and be used when needed. |
| If an object is left out in the sun, what are the things | | | | If all this sounds like too much effort, remember you |
| that heat up quickly? Metal, black objects, glass or | | | | can always purchase solar panels and get them |
| mirrors. These are all things that heat up quickly and all | | | | installed professionally in your home. |