Solar energy is one of the most eco-friendly power sources that we have available. Unlike coal-burning electrical plants, solar energy does not emit harmful pollutants that roam within the earth’s atmosphere. Here is how solar energy is harnessed.

Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaic cells are designed to absorb the sunlight. These cells are usually grouped into a module so that their power outputs can be combined together. Each cell produces 1-2 watts, so they can produce a substantial amount of energy when bundled together.

Light Absorption
As the sunlight begins to shine down on the More »

The natural energy from the sun can be extracted to power our daily appliances and other uses. For example, rooftop solar panels can be installed to provide only hot water for a home or building. By contrast, installing solar panels to provide electricity for an entire home is a much more sophisticated process. Rooftop water heaters have collectors that store hot water that rushes to a water heater. Electric solar panels are designed to store electric charge More »

Two types of solar energy are thermal energy and photovoltaic energy. Thermal energy is the process of the sun’s rays warming a surface, such as the sun warming the garden soil. Builders use this passive solar energy by constructing thermal storage containers. One popular method is to build a massive stone wall on the side of the building where the sun shines. This method does not produce electricity.

Solar panels, called photovoltaic (PV) solar collectors, create electricity from the sun’s rays. Although it is not suitable More »

Perhaps you are no stranger to green energy, especially if you get great TXU rates and your energy is supplied by environmentally conscious companies. And, chances are, you know all about solar energy but do you understand the difference between passive and active. Not knowing the difference does not diminish the importance of this renewable resource but it can help you get the most out of it if you are planning on utilizing the sun’s energy for additional power.

Passive Solar Energy
Just like the name implies, it is passive. There are no instruments used to harness the sun’s rays or focus them – no collectors, grids or cells. Many houses that utilize passive solar energy have sunspaces (like greenhouse panels) and trombe walls built into the south side of the building to absorb the most from the sun. The sunspace absorbs the heat from the sun and, if properly ventilated, it can be cycled through the home and trombe walls can absorb and hold the heat.

Active Solar Energy
Mirrors and metal plates are used to capture and focus the solar radiation where it can then be transferred to air or water. This means home heating is possible through solar panels and even hot water. This energy can also be harnessed and used in special floor heating systems, as well. Plus, fans and pumps can be implemented to circulate the hot air.

Understanding how both systems work, and implementing them in your home can save you thousands on energy costs.

The need to reduce our energy usage is imperative for the survival of our planet. Solar energy is a renewable resource that can reduce our carbon footprint and save us money as well. To use solar power effectively a good system needs to be in place. Knowing what you want to power in your home will determine what type of system you need. If you want to power as much as possible, a photovoltaic system is needed, which has inverters that use the energy from the sun and turn it into More »

Usually we think about the particular costs of using a certain type of energy. It is not often that we think of the cost of not using another type of energy. Many are now suggesting that we should be thinking about what we are paying by not using solar energy.

Solar energy is something that is literally given to us for free. If we are not taking the time to utilize this and really put it to good use, then we are throwing away something that is free. That is More »

If not for the solar energy the Earth gains from its closest star, the Sun, it would be a cold rock unable to support life as we know it. This planet’s biosphere is entirely dependent on the life-giving energy of the sun, both directly and indirectly.

Man has adapted ways to utilize this energy to do work that may have formerly been the domain of dirty power sources like fossil fuels. Employing photons delivered naturally to the location where work is to be done automatically affects More »

Solar energy is different than most other types of energy in several very important ways. Once way that solar energy distinguishes itself is that solar is a sustainable form of energy. In other words, solar energy is not depleted no matter how much of the sun’s energy that we use
Being sustainable, and virtually inexhaustible, also means that solar energy is a reliable resource for the world’s future energy needs. In comparison, other energy sources, like oil and natural gas, are finite in their supply.I found some more information here. Another drawback of oil and gas More »