The light from the sun is a renewable source of fuel that is either passive or active. Passive ways of capturing it include construction that uses materials with light dispersing components. The interior of a home can be designed to cause air to circulate naturally. There are also active ways to use solar energy.
The homeowner with photovoltaic panels on the roof will also have to be connected to a grid. It will enable him to get electricity from another source, such as a local electric utility in the area.
Several generations ago, the average homeowner could not afford to have installation of the panels done. The cost has decreased with increased demand and production to meet that demand. The initial investment pays off because it remains functional for twenty years or more.
In addition there are government subsidies available for those who meet certain criteria. The savings can be in the form of paying for part of the installation, or giving a tax deduction to the family that owns the home. Over the twenty five year period, those panels can result in significant savings.
Although there are 174,000 terawatts of radiation transmitted from the sun, only fifty-percent of that amount reaches the ground. Thirty-percent is reflected upward into the atmosphere. The remainder is absorbed by oceans, ground and the clouds. The temperature rises as a result.
A famous United States inventor developed the concept of using light from the sun to convert to electricity. This engineer, Frank Shuman built a sun powered engine. How it functioned was by reflecting the energy from the sun into small boxes of ether. The resultant power ran a steam engine.
Together with a British physicist, Sir Charles Vernon Boys, Shuman developed an advanced system using mirrors. They built the original thermal power station in 1913. Development of solar power was curtailed when cheap oil was discovered in the early 1930s.
The schoolchildren of today are the homeowners, scientists and consumers of tomorrow. Getting them excited about possible uses for the suns power is a good idea. Do they ever ask how those big orange signs along the freeway system light up without being plugged in. Tell them about the solar panels on top of each sign.
New designs are being tested all the time. Consider the lines of clothing that utilize solar energy to recharge cell phones for campers and hikers. T-shirts and caps have mini-photovoltaic panels on them. Boats and cars also have these panels to use sun power instead of petrol to fuel the engines.
Do you know about the World Solar Challenge held in Australia? It is a race entered only by cars running on energy from the sun. That country also has a passenger ferry in Sydney Harbour called the Solar Sailor, which runs on sun, wind or battery power. It can run on diesel fuel, but only on cloudy days.
Researchers are discovering new ways to use solar power every day. It is a field that is exciting. The children will someday become scientists, researchers and inventors. They may start by inventing things that run on sun power and enter them in the science fair at their school.
The homeowner with photovoltaic panels on the roof will also have to be connected to a grid. It will enable him to get electricity from another source, such as a local electric utility in the area.
Several generations ago, the average homeowner could not afford to have installation of the panels done. The cost has decreased with increased demand and production to meet that demand. The initial investment pays off because it remains functional for twenty years or more.
In addition there are government subsidies available for those who meet certain criteria. The savings can be in the form of paying for part of the installation, or giving a tax deduction to the family that owns the home. Over the twenty five year period, those panels can result in significant savings.
Although there are 174,000 terawatts of radiation transmitted from the sun, only fifty-percent of that amount reaches the ground. Thirty-percent is reflected upward into the atmosphere. The remainder is absorbed by oceans, ground and the clouds. The temperature rises as a result.
A famous United States inventor developed the concept of using light from the sun to convert to electricity. This engineer, Frank Shuman built a sun powered engine. How it functioned was by reflecting the energy from the sun into small boxes of ether. The resultant power ran a steam engine.
Together with a British physicist, Sir Charles Vernon Boys, Shuman developed an advanced system using mirrors. They built the original thermal power station in 1913. Development of solar power was curtailed when cheap oil was discovered in the early 1930s.
The schoolchildren of today are the homeowners, scientists and consumers of tomorrow. Getting them excited about possible uses for the suns power is a good idea. Do they ever ask how those big orange signs along the freeway system light up without being plugged in. Tell them about the solar panels on top of each sign.
New designs are being tested all the time. Consider the lines of clothing that utilize solar energy to recharge cell phones for campers and hikers. T-shirts and caps have mini-photovoltaic panels on them. Boats and cars also have these panels to use sun power instead of petrol to fuel the engines.
Do you know about the World Solar Challenge held in Australia? It is a race entered only by cars running on energy from the sun. That country also has a passenger ferry in Sydney Harbour called the Solar Sailor, which runs on sun, wind or battery power. It can run on diesel fuel, but only on cloudy days.
Researchers are discovering new ways to use solar power every day. It is a field that is exciting. The children will someday become scientists, researchers and inventors. They may start by inventing things that run on sun power and enter them in the science fair at their school.
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To save money with solar energy MA residents should first review the essential information on the Web. Get expert advice about solar panels from this recommended source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJaYk8QQbRU&list=PLLZmhGXTTVAfbygFC8xkQF5EDsTMWDYKQ.
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