The Greatest Advantages of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a very popular subject at the moment,No Pollution
especially with all the fossil fuel related disasters thatSolar is not only free and abundant, it's also
have been taking place recently and the destruction,pollution-free. The heat and light we get from the sun is
both actual and potential, and mayhem they haveproduced as a result of the natural processes of the
caused and may well continue to cause for manysun, and produces no pollutants or carbon emissions.
years to come.Photovoltaic electricity is produced by solar panels via
There are many advantages to solar energy, but whata process known as the "photovoltaic effect", which
are the greatest? That's a bit subjective, so, with thatgenerates DC (Direct Current) electricity from the
in mind, here's one writer's take on what the greatestreaction of sunlight on materials such as selenium and
advantages of solar energy are.silicon. The process uses no fuel to initiate it so no
Free, Abundant And Renewablecarbon emissions are involved in the generation of the
How many energy sources can you describe as free,electricity and no carbon emissions or pollutants are
abundant and renewable? The answer is one - solarproduced as a result of the process.
energy. And therein lies probably the greatestElectricity supplied by the utility companies is mainly
advantage of solar energy, the fact that there is sogenerated using fossil fuels, which results in large
much of it (over 6,000 times more solar energy strikesamounts of carbon emissions and pollution, all of which
the Earth in one hour than is used by the planet's entirecontributes directly to the growing phenomenon known
population in a full year! Now that's abundant) and thatas global warming, which is posing a serious threat not
it reaches us at no cost to us (hence, it's free) and thatonly to the environment but also to many of the
it's there for us each and every day, 365 days a yearlifeforms whose existence is being threatened by the
(renewable is probably an understatement); it's hard torapid changes taking place in the environment.
imagine a greater advantage.Get Your Electricity Free
The sun's energy reaches us in the forms of light andIf you were to invest in a solar electric system, you
heat, and all of us can take advantage of that energywould not only be helping the environment by reducing
for free every day. In fact, truth be told, you probablyyour reliance on your utility and thus reducing the use
already are taking advantage of it, even though youof fossil fuels and the resultant amount of carbon
may not realize it. "Wait. How can that be?", youemissions, but you'd also be reducing your electricity bill,
wonder. "Surely I'd know if I was using solar energy.or perhaps eventually eliminating it. The more electricity
Wouldn't I have solar panels on my roof?"generated by your solar electric system, the less
Remember we said solar energy was free andelectricity you'll need from your utility and the lower
abundant? Well, that's exactly what you're gettingyour electricity bill will be.
every day when you open your drapes and let theWhile investing in a PV system can be expensive,
sun's light and heat in to supply you with free light anddepending on the size and complexity of the system
heat. This is a concept known as passive solar energy,being installed, the system can pay for itself in energy
and, if you have materials in your home that can retainsavings within 5-10 years, meaning your system will be
heat, such as concrete floors and walls (also knowngenerating free electricity thereafter.
as thermal mass), these materials will absorb heat,Solar energy has many advantages, and the number
keeping your home cool during the summer, andof advantages continues to increase as the
release the heat as the temperature in your hometechnology continues to improve, but these are among
cools, keeping you warm at night.the greatest advantages of solar energy.