| Solar energy information gives us a lot of knowledge | | | | the symbols of renewable energy and a greener earth |
| about how solar harness the free energy. The story | | | | in the future. Solar energy information throws up a lot |
| dates back to thousands of years when the primitive | | | | of very interesting facts about this source of energy |
| man used in its passive form to dry food, clothing and | | | | which are mentioned as follows: |
| to warm dwellings for millions of years. Over the years | | | | The earth receives 174 peta watts of solar energy |
| it has stood the test of time and the sun was and still | | | | at the upper atmosphere at any given time. |
| is the most powerful source of energy on our planet. | | | | Total solar energy available on earth is |
| Learning to capture in a sophisticated manner began | | | | approximately 3850 Zetta-joules (ZJ) per year. |
| around 700 B.C. It was discovered that the sun's rays | | | | This energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 |
| directed through a piece of glass could start a fire if | | | | kilowatt=1000 watts. |
| the rays of the sun fell on something flammable. | | | | This energy is responsible for weather patterns |
| This energy derived from the sun through the form of | | | | and ocean currents. |
| solar radiation. It powered electrical generation relies on | | | | Solar industrialization was predicted by Leonardo |
| photo-voltaic and heat engines. Other applications | | | | Da Vinci in 1447. |
| include space heating and cooling through solar | | | | Developing countries have an abundance of sunlight |
| architecture, day-lighting, solar hot water, solar cooking | | | | and since most of the population lives without |
| and high temperature heating for industrial purposes. | | | | electricity, there is the fastest growing market for |
| Solar energy information tells us that the energy | | | | harnessing the free energy in these countries. |
| technologies could be broadly classified as being | | | | This energy is affected by many factors, weather |
| passive solar energy and active solar energy | | | | being one of them. There is less energy on a cloudy |
| technologies, depending on the way solar energy is | | | | day. Other factors affecting the energy are the length |
| captured, converted and distributed. | | | | of the day. No solar energy is produced at night. At the |
| The techniques include the use of P.V panels and solar | | | | north and south Polar Regions, solar power loses its |
| thermal collectors to harness the sun's energy. The | | | | appeal because of the long periods without sunlight or |
| techniques include orienting a building towards the sun, | | | | weak sunlight. These drawbacks can somewhat be |
| selecting building materials with favorable thermal mass | | | | mitigated by the use of powerful battery technology. |
| or light dispersing properties and designing spaces that | | | | Knowledge of solar energy information would enable |
| naturally circulate air. | | | | us to generate surplus energy when the sun is shining |
| Solar power is the source of nearly all our energy. The | | | | and save the extra for the time s when solar power is |
| famous song of the 1980s, "The sun always shines on | | | | unavailable or insufficient. With so much of the world's |
| T.V.", could be slightly modified to "The sun always | | | | population living in sunny climates, it is the most |
| shines on P.V." Photovoltaic solar panels have become | | | | effective and eco-friendly source of energy available. |