ALL THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is renewable energy because it comes from the sun. The sun is not expected to die for five billion years, so we can count on it to provide us with clean, free energy for a very long time to come. This certainly cannot be said of fossil fuels, which are non renewable. Once we have blasted, drilled and goaded every drop and scrap of oil, gas and coal out of the earth, that's it. There will be no more, and we will be left with a ravaged earth, polluted air and water and gas and oil companies claiming to have "discovered" the very renewable energy sources that are available to us by choice today.
Solar energy is abundant. In fact, its potential is simply unimaginable. The surface of the earth receives more than 120,000 terawatts of solar energy daily. This is equal to enough power to take care of all the energy demands of the earth for 20,000 years.
Solar energy is eco-friendly. It can be harnessed with a minimal production of pollution. Unfortunately, today most solar panels are produced in China where environmental standards are lower. For this reason, there is some pollution concern in terms of production; however, stronger environmental regulations can address these problems. Additionally, when compared to the massive amounts of pollution and destruction that result from every aspect of the gathering and use of fossil fuels, these concerns are minute.
Solar power is sustainable. We can count on it to meet our energy needs and the energy needs of future generations into perpetuity.
Solar energy is more than affordable. With today's technology, it is possible to power your entire home using nothing but solar energy. In fact, you could install a system that produces excess which you can sell back to the power grid. This means that, once set up, your solar panels will provide you with both free electricity and a regular income.
Solar energy is versatile and portable. It can be used for a multitude of purposes. Today, solar energy is used to bring electricity to very remote areas on earth and in space! It is also regularly used for single applications such as heating pools or providing automatic outdoor lighting at night. Portable solar chargers can be used to power and recharge all kinds of electronic devices in areas where there is no electrical outlet available.
THE MINOR DOWNSIDES OF SOLAR ENERGY
There are really very few downsides when it comes to solar power and those downsides are becoming fewer and smaller by the day.
One current problem is that installing a solar energy system can be very costly. The cost of solar panels has gone down by more than half in this century, however, it can still get a bit pricey to install a whole house system. Luckily, today there are a number of rebate and incentive programs offered by local, state and the federal government to encourage people to convert to solar energy. These programs can reduce the cost of installing solar by half or more.
In the past, one of the cons of solar power was that it was considered intermittent. This has changed considerably in recent years. Today's modern, efficient panels work consistently and well even in areas that do not have blazing hot sun every day of the year. Furthermore, energy can be stored in batteries, or people using solar power can simply stay hooked up to the grid to draw electricity back from the grid in the event it is needed.
Another disadvantage that is fading fast is the idea that solar panels need a massive amount of space. Like all technology, solar panels are becoming smaller and more efficient by the day. Additionally, they are available in a variety of formats and configurations including sturdy, attractive roof tiles that can simply be used to roof your home to provide energy inconspicuously all year round.
When considering solar energy pros and cons, it's easy to see that the pros far outweigh the cons. Modern solar energy is clear a strong and viable contender as a supplier of energy needs for people in all walks of life the world over.
