Solar Energy Is the Best AlternativeWhat Is Solar EnergyPassive solar energy has been providing heat and light to our planet since the beginning of time. The sun is, in fact, the source of all our energy resources on Earth. Through natural processes energy from the sun affects, creates and/or sustains plant and animal life, winds, rain, and even fossil fuels.
So, in essence, all other alternative energy resources are powered by the sun. The sun radiates huge amounts of energy and only a small fraction actually makes it to earth. Even so, the sun alone provides enough energy to support our planet. The information on solar energy and its uses is extensive. In the following series of articles, I have compiled some facts and useful data as an overview. I’ve organized it in a way which I hope will be clear and informative. If you are interested in more in depth details, there are numerous great books on the subject available through your local library. How Is Solar Energy Used
Through human invention and new technology man has been able to harness the sun’s energy and turn it into solar power to heat water, homes, buildings, pools and to create electricity. Solar power can provide enough electrical power to meet the needs of industries, homes and entire towns. In one hour, enough of the sun’s energy reaches Earth to meet the energy needs of every human being on the planet for a whole year. Basically, it can replace all the oil, gas, and electricity used in one year. As alternative energy sources go, solar power is the considered one of the best. It is certainly renewable—the sun is always shining in some part of the world. It can’t run out and is available to all. After the initial cost of manufacture and installation it is free to run (in some applications) and produces zero pollution. A Summary of Solar Energy HistoryIn 1767, a Swiss scientist discovered the “hot box” which is the precursor to modern day solar collecting devices. Expanding on this discovery, an American inventor patented the first solar water heater in 1891. In 1860, Auguste Mouchout, a Frenchman, designed the first solar powered motor using a huge dish-shaped reflector. Although, he succeeded in building a solar motor that could pump water, the price of coal was dropping, making the design of solar-powered motors less cost-effective. Mouchout’s design inspired others to build similar designs. In 1878, William Adams designed the power tower using rows of small, flat mirrors on a rack to replace the reflector dish. Again, he could not compete with the price and easy- accessibility of coal and wood. At around the same time, in 1870, John Ericsson, built the first solar-powered steam engine using Mouchout’s design. Ten years later he invented a parabolic trough which was cheaper than the dish reflector, but which did not generate as much heat. While none of these inventions took hold then, they are the basis of solar power technology today. Engineers in the 1960s built upon these ideas to build modern solar power systems. They concluded that while dish reflectors are more efficient, parabolic reflectors are easier to build and maintain. Fueling Our InventionsThe Industrial Revolution had produced new technology and inventions. Factories sprung up, cars and trains were invented. Man began to rely on machines to do most of the work, and so the need for energy to run them. Coal was the cheapest and simplest form of energy so it quickly became the main source of energy. People turned to petroleum for energy and fuel in the 1900s. But as time passed it became evident that relying on someone else--a foreign power--for one's major source of energy could become a dangerous predicament. So, the oil crisis of the 70s prompted a return to the investigation of solar power uses, the
photovoltaic effect
, and in the green technology of converting
the sun's rays into electricity. As the price of gasoline soared last year to record highs, it was dejá vu. We know history repeats itself, but do you know why? It's because we are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but oftentimes we must make the same mistake over and over before we get it. Well,it's time we got it!
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