Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Homeowners Are Turning To Suns Energy For Economical Reasons

Homeowners Are Turning To Suns Energy For Economical Reasons

By Albert Cranton


The two ways the light of the sun can be used are categorized as passive or active. The passive techniques include building methods that use materials that have thermal mass with light dispersing components. Space inside a building can be designed to circulate the air in a natural way. Solar energy, used actively collects the sunlight using Photovoltaic panels.



One active method uses photovoltaic panels built on roofs to collect sun power and convert it to electricity. If the home is in a warm climate state, that can provide all the power needed in the house. In cold climate states such as massachusetts, the homeowner must be connected to a grid. That way he can purchase power from the local electric company in the winter.

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.

Some homeowners will be eligible for government subsidies. They can receive a cash rebate or a deduction on their income taxes. The panels will be financially beneficial with or without the subsidies.

Only half of the light that emanates from the sun gets to the ground on earth. The amount of incoming radiation is 174,000 terawatts, thirty percent of which is reflected upwards. The rest is absorbed by the oceans, clouds and ground. It serves to raise temperatures in the environment.

Solar energy is a concept developed by a famous United States inventor. Frank Shuman was an engineer who built a small sun powered engine. It reflected the suns energy into square boxes of ether. This in turn powered a steam engine.

Along with a British physicist, he went on to develop a more advanced system that used mirrors. By 1913 they had built the original thermal power station, located in Maadi, Egypt. Development of power from the sun was curtailed by the discovery of cheap oil in 1930.

Two decades from now the kids of today will be the inventors of the future. If they grow excited about alternative energy who knows what they will be able to do. As they see the large orange signs along the freeway, explanations about how they light up will pique their interest.

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.

Kids should be excited to hear about the World Solar Challenge, a race held in Australia. This race only allows the use of cars that run on energy from the sun. In Sydney, Australia there is a passenger ferry in Sydney Harbour called the Solar Sailor. It has the capability to run on solar energy, wind, battery power or diesel fuel.

Advancements continue in creating new ways to use the energy of the sun. It is a wide open field for engineers and research scientists. One kid in each classroom may invent something fabulous in fifteen years.




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