Advantages of Solar Energy
Solar Energy is literally the best discovery in terms of energy period, in my opinion. I hope after reading this article, you will understand why I make such a statement, and maybe even slightly agree! Since architecture began, the sun has influenced building. Back when humans did not have such gadgets as watches and wall calenders, they kept track of it just as we do, except with the solar path. If you read much about this type of energy, you will find that facing our structures to the south will provide ample heat and light to penetrate in. Just think about how long that statement as been passed along: through time, different dialects, over seas, different cultures, all the way down to this blog. While dwelling unit orientation was first recorded with the Chinese and Greeks, I am sure it was used well before that time. It seems to only make sense that in the days before electricity and power sources like we have today, that it was a necessity to use the sun for heat and light. We have become so reliant on the way energy is produced for us, that we have come to almost completely ignore the natural resources to not only help us with our homes, but to create an aesthetic full of light and warmth. Now with this brief introduction, I am going to start exploring advantages of solar energy.
(1) Solar Energy is Renewable. I’ve mentioned this in several different postings, but here it goes again. The energy put out by the sun every day is billions upon billions more than we can ever use in that same amount of time. Give this, it is completely valid to say it is the most renewable resource available to gather an use energy. Wind comes in second to solar, but certainly does not rank nearly as high in the renewable category. Wind power is amazing and has been tapped much more by utility companies to provide energy that way. If you want your energy to come from wind power, you can tell your power company. You can also purchase wind power cards for almost any given amount. If you want to be on the forefront of the renewable energy, but don’t want to jump into solar power just yet, I highly recommend switching to wind power. It is definitely a start, and shows the power companies that there is a strong demand for the renewable sources. Also, if you are interested in setting up a wind energy system solely for you, then it will be a great way to either start a system that you can use all the time, or one that you can split with a solar energy source.
(2) Solar Energy is cheap! Okay, before I say anything else, I need to make sure this initial statement is not misunderstood. Solar Energy costs the consumer a pretty hefty amount to purchase the hardware, but is very minimal to maintain and cuts your energy bills down completely, or nearly so. The cost of solar panels, specifically depending on the size of your dwelling, can be rather costly. But after the initial investment, they are there. They add value to your home, and they are not using the earth’s precious and limited natural resources. If you are building a new structure all together, I highly suggest you design your structure in such a way that it passively collects the sun’s heat. It will assist whichever energy system you implement into your home and help cut down costs all around. I have a blog post dedicated solely to suggestions on passive solar design techniques. Check it out to get a brief overview on different techniques, ranging from structure orientation to window and foliage placement.
We can, however, expect the price of solar systems to only decrease, as the demand rises, companies can meet larger production quantities that make production more efficient, thus, less expensive for the end users. The bottom line here is that the cost of our current ways through which we obtain energy for our homes is going no where but up. The sun is there for you every day, free of charge!
(3) Solar Energy has no harmful effects on the environment. As solar cells collect energy from the sun, they do not put out any negative anything. They silently go about their work, providing you with ample energy to maintain your home. The solar energy equipment never produces any gases, fumes, etc, and never requires products that create these harmful substances either. So not only are these seemingly miracle systems giving you free energy, but they have no lasting effects on this earth. We also do not need to worry about running out of solar energy.
(4) Solar Energy is quiet! As mentioned briefly above, solar cells silently go about their business. Unlike wind turbines, solar panels do not make noise. If an energy system is a toss up for you personally, and you happen to be a light sleeper, perhaps this is your deciding factor! The size and location of the turbine will affect how much noise it makes, but you can bet it will be overall noisier than the solar energy systems.
(5) Solar energy is synonymous with simplicity. There are several ’simplicity’ factors that are related to the maintenance and installation of solar energy systems. These systems are very low-maintenance and have an incredible lifetime. The lack of moving parts really helps with their longevity. The installation is very easy to perform as well. No wires involved!
It is my hope and intention that these five advantages and descriptions thereof, to give you a well rounded idea of the advantages to solar energy. I would like to say that there are two characteristics of solar energy that are considered disadvantages. The first is that solar energy cannot be products at night. This can be solved by storing energy throughout the day, so that in the off-peak hours, you can use the stored energy. The other characteristic deemed a disadvantage is the initial investment cost. It is not a secret, these systems can and often are quite pricey. But please take another look at the paragraph dedicated to the solar energy cost. This price can be curved by state incentive programs, as well as passive solar systems as a way to alleviate the demand on the active system. If the active system has assistance, it will not need to be as large as if it has no assistance at all. Despite these disadvantages, I hope it is clear that the advantages outweigh them without contest. I also hope that you found this article useful and informative!