| Although the use of solar energy in daily life is a great | | | | for use in everyday life, and the good news is that the |
| concept and one that will surely become a reality | | | | number of such solar-powered items will continue to |
| eventually, we aren't quite there yet. We're seeing | | | | increase as we come to grips with the limitless |
| more news and coming across items related to solar | | | | possibility offered by free energy from the sun. |
| energy more and more all the time, since it seems | | | | Now, The Bad News |
| we're finally waking up to the effects of our addiction | | | | One of the hardest things for people to do is to break |
| to fossil fuels on the planet in the form of carbon | | | | a habit or move out of their comfort zone and try |
| emissions and global warming. | | | | something new. Since solar technology is relatively |
| So, where do we stand as far as solar energy being | | | | new, and most people don't understand exactly how it |
| part of our daily life is concerned? There's good and | | | | works or the principles behind it, they're reluctant to |
| bad news, so let's take a look at both. | | | | embrace it and take the plunge into laying out |
| First, The Good News | | | | hard-earned money on something unknown or that |
| Have you noticed that your electricity bill seems to be | | | | they're uncomfortable with. |
| constantly on the increase? And yet you don't seem | | | | The best way to rectify this is to educate people and |
| to be doing anything different from one month to the | | | | make sure they have all the facts and information they |
| next. It's not like you're buying a new big screen TV | | | | need to make what was new and uncomfortable |
| every month and leaving it turned on 24 hours a day. | | | | seem familiar and exciting. With the increasing |
| So, why is this happening? | | | | popularity of the internet and the expanding availability |
| The utility companies use fossil fuels to generate | | | | of computer technology, a lot of information on solar |
| electricity for our homes, and, unfortunately, due to our | | | | and renewable energy is available online, but people |
| over-reliance on fossil fuels caused by an increase in | | | | have to know its there and desire to find it first. |
| the number of household appliances and conveniences | | | | You can test the waters relatively cheaply by installing |
| and the number of cars on the road, the supply of | | | | solar lighting along your footpaths and driveway. Solar |
| fossil fuels is nearing exhaustion, so the lack of supply | | | | lighting is readily available and easy to install. It lights up |
| is driving up the cost of everything derived from fossil | | | | our front yard beautifully, so take my word - it works. |
| fuels, including electricity. | | | | The cost of a new solar electric system is hard for a |
| The good news in this scenario is that it's causing | | | | lot of people to come to terms with, both financially |
| more people to not only become more interested in | | | | and conceptually. While it's true that buying a solar |
| making a change and looking at how they can turn | | | | power system can be quite expensive, that is |
| more to using alternative energy, but to take the next | | | | changing. After all, the cost of solar panels has come |
| step and actually invest in solar energy and | | | | down substantially in the last 5 years and will continue |
| solar-powered devices and gadgets. | | | | to do so as the technology continues to be improved. |
| Nowadays you never need to be without power for | | | | In the end, I believe the use of solar energy in daily life |
| your cell phone or MP3 player thanks to solar | | | | is on the increase and will continue to increase as |
| chargers. Solar radios and walkie talkies can keep you | | | | people become better educated on solar and its |
| in contact with the outside world if you're ever out | | | | benefits, both immediate and long-term. There'll come a |
| hiking or find yourself in a remote location, or if you just | | | | day when you wake up to your solar clock radio, |
| want to avoid using batteries. Speaking of batteries, | | | | brush your teeth with your solar toothbrush, grab your |
| they can be recharged using solar battery chargers, | | | | breakfast from your refrigerator, which runs off your |
| so you may never need to throw another battery | | | | solar electric system, of course, and drive to work in |
| away. Now, that's not only good news - that's great | | | | your solar car. |
| news! | | | | A solar world is coming. And the sooner the better for |
| We've only scratched the surface of what's available | | | | our future and that of generations to come. |