Monday, September 28, 2009

Solar Energy

One of the largest sources of renewable energy sources on Earth is solar energy, unfortunately only a minuscule amount is used. This form of energy has been around for many years and can be used for a number of things. Solar energy can be harnessed for two main things: heat and electricity. Heat energy, also referred to as thermal energy, can be harnessed and converted into thwo things: photovoltaic devices and concentrating solar power plants. Photovoltaic devices or pv devices, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, are mostly seen in calculators. Concentrating solar power plants on the other hand generate electricity by using the heat from solar-thermal collectors to heat a fluid that produces steam which is used to power a generator. Like many things, solar energy does have its drawbacks. First of all it's not consistant meaning that the amount of sunlight that reaches the surface of the Earth is never constant and second, although it is cheaper in the long run, it's expensive in the short term view and that's something people tend to focus on most of the time.

In my opinion solar energy has been something everyone should take great investment in. Getting solar panels on houses, especially if you live in warm, sunny climates is the best thing to do because your basically gaining from a free resource. A main problem with a lot our resources out there is that no one is really looking at what is going to happen in the long run and that is why many of our resources are running out, well same goes here. With this natural great resource, everyone look as at the price but doesn't look at the fact that in a few years that it will pay for itself and save its owner and the environment much more.





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