Solar Energy: An Alternative Energy Source

Collage: Solar Energy Is An Alternative Energy Source
Credits: MS Office ClipArt - mh900437932

In keeping with our commitment to "green" building and design we are always looking to expand our knowledge of environmental issues such as energy efficiency. Here is an article about one alternative energy source.

What is solar energy? Solar energy is the light produced by the sun. Once the sunlight ray traveling from the sun hits an object on the earth it produces heat or energy. A very interesting fact that has come to light (no pun intended!) is that in just one hour, enough sunlight reaches the Earth to provide our energy needs for almost an entire year! This is especially important because the sun can provide us with an infinite supply of energy for a long, long, long time to come.

Up until now most of our energy has been derived from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas. Where it is becoming problematic is that the majority of fossil fuels have already been extracted from the earth. This means that as time goes by, our present resources will be depleted and we will have to look for new sources of energy. This in turn will drive up the cost of energy, making it much more expensive for consumers. And there is also the environmental damage caused when burning the fossil fuels to consider. Greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere which then leads to global warming. Therefore it is in everyone's best interest to start looking at other sources of energy.

Although residential solar systems are still quite costly, the possibilities for solar energy are incredible. Solar electricity, solar heating and solar lighting are all possibilities. At present, there are 3 kinds of solar energy. Passive solar energy requires no mechanical devices to create energy, active solar energy uses mechanical devices to create energy and thermal solar energy is created by converting solar energy into heat. Solar energy is becoming more important at this time because it can provide energy for us in the future as our supply of fossil fuels start to dwindle; it can save consumers money in the long term by reducing or eliminating your electrical bill altogether; and it can also have a positive effect on the planet by saving irreplaceable resources and reducing greenhouse gases.

As a "green" builder, we at Wo-Built are always interested in new ideas and other alternatives that helps us all to be more eco-friendly as well as saving the earth's resources.

Lonya Miller,
Writer
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build