| Earth's supplies of fossil fuels are being depleted at an | | | | environmental damage, solar power merely requires its |
| alarming rate; by some projections, they may not last | | | | shiny flat panels in sunny places such as rooftops or |
| us another hundred years. The move to renewable | | | | backyards. |
| energy has therefore become imperative, and solar | | | | No other source of energy on Earth guarantees total |
| power is the most likely candidate for what will fuel | | | | energy independence. Solar power may be impractical |
| civilization in the coming century. This choice should | | | | in some places, but electrical power without the need |
| come as a surprise to no one: virtually every species | | | | for a massive infrastructure is a blessing to |
| on Earth draws on the power of the sun for warmth, | | | | less-developed areas. And in places where solar |
| and it's been around longer than any other force we've | | | | power may not be able to provide 100% of a |
| since harnessed. Now it can be converted into | | | | household's needs due to various conditions, even |
| electricity to power our homes and businesses, and | | | | partial reliance can mean reduced energy bills and |
| best of all, all you need to transform your house into its | | | | reduced dependence on fossil fuels. |
| own self-sustaining power plant is the requisite solar | | | | Installing a solar power system can be a costly |
| panels. | | | | proposition, but it will pay dividends over time as your |
| Solar power is the ultimate renewable resource; the | | | | monthly utility bills are slashed or obviated entirely. |
| sun has been around longer than the Earth itself and | | | | Readily-available solar energy kits can help you clear |
| will likely still be just the way we remember it when the | | | | even this hurdle, if you don't mind working with your |
| last cockroach dies. For the next four billion years the | | | | hands: for a fraction of the cost of a professional |
| sun will continue to be capable of sustaining life: as long | | | | installation, you can build and install your own |
| as we can make photovoltaic cells, we will have | | | | fully-functioning solar panels. |
| electricity, and therefore civilization. Let's see oil and | | | | Once the initial expense is out of the way, all that's left |
| coal do that. | | | | is to reap the benefits. Your solar power system will |
| And unlike fossil fuels, which release both their energy | | | | continue to harvest energy from the sun with only a |
| and harmful gases when burned, solar power has no | | | | minimum of maintenance required, and you'll |
| toxic byproducts: solar cells don't poison groundwater | | | | immediately see a difference in your electric bill. A |
| or contribute to acid rain or put holes in the ozone | | | | difference in the planet will take somewhat longer, but |
| layer. And also unlike fossil fuels, which require that we | | | | with more and more people switching to solar power |
| dig deep into the earth and establish tanker fleets and | | | | every day, it's safe to say that we'll someday soon |
| pipelines susceptible to spillage and thus further | | | | kick our nasty habit of burning fossil fuels. |