| People have known about electricity a long time, Ben | | | | You are also helping your wallet by eliminating the |
| Franklin was doing experiments with lightning in 1752. In | | | | dreaded monthly power bill, which has grown into a |
| 1800 Alessandro Volta invented the First electric | | | | large expense and will continue to get larger in the |
| battery, and by the end of the 19th century electricity | | | | future. |
| was being transmitted miles over power lines, for | | | | Interestingly solar power has other uses besides |
| varied uses by consumers. | | | | generating electricity, for instance it can also be used |
| Electric Power today is generated by turbines, using | | | | to cook food. Solar cookers are more of a novelty, |
| principals discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831. Most | | | | but they actually do work well and show another of |
| of these generating plants use the process of burning | | | | the varied uses of solar power. |
| coal to power the turbines. | | | | Solar heating systems at home are being used by |
| The burning of coal is one of the largest sources of | | | | some families to take care of their own home's |
| carbon dioxide and other pollutants in this country and | | | | heating needs. Solar thermal systems can maintain a |
| is a major contributor to global warming. Economic | | | | steady temperature at your house without worrying |
| concerns dictate that these plants will be around for | | | | about bills. Unfortunately these systems are still |
| many more years, as society is so dependant on | | | | cumbersome and expensive, but hopefully will become |
| electric power in our time, that without it there would | | | | a more viable option to everyone in the future. Just |
| be chaos. | | | | one more of the many uses of the power of the sun. |
| Solar power production is slowly growing in popularity, | | | | Recently new developments in the solar energy field |
| especially when used as a means to power your own | | | | has made it possible for just about anyone to have |
| household, giving you a free source of energy that is | | | | their own solar powered home. There are many |
| non polluting. This not only reduces the strain on the | | | | people who have always wanted to eliminate their |
| public power grid, it gives you the satisfaction of | | | | power bill and help the environment but the very high |
| knowing that you are doing something to help the | | | | cost has understandably held them back. |
| environment. | | | | |