Subscribe To This Site

Solar Power Energy

Interested in using solar power energy for your home or office?

Well, we have some good places for you to look!

Whether you want the do-it-yourself options, or you want to find a good professional to set up a solar system for you, look no further.

We have everything you will need in one place!

Where Do I Start?

To begin using solar power energy for your home or office, you are going to have an initial cost of setting up your system (and then some maintenance as the years go by). But, the rest will just be free energy given to you everyday for years and years to come.

If you are hesitant (like we were) to invest in solar panels and have them set up by a professional for your home or professional use, don't feel alone. As the initial investment for solar power energy has (in the past) been a little high for the overall long-term savings, it's now proving to be much more affordable!

One of the companies we looked at is called Off Grid Living. They make this process very easy and very affordable as they show you ways to set up and build your own solar power in your home without all of the hassle and cost associated with professional or commercial setups. They even show you how to find FREE solar panels and build your own system for your home very affordably.

2 Ways You Can Harness Solar Power

Since sunlight is made up of photons of radiant energy constantly bombarding some part of our earth, you simply need to capture these photons and convert them to a form of energy that you can more readily use - like electricity.

Each year, 5.4 million exajoules of sunlight energy reaches the earth's atmosphere. From that, 2.5 million exajoules of sun energy actually reach Earth's surface.

What are the methods for actually capturing the sun's energy?

Let's take a look at the 2 primary ways/methods for capturing that portion of the sun's energy in your location: Photovoltaic (Electrical) and Thermal (Heat):

1.) Solar Panels - Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. (This is where the word "Photovoltaic" comes from)

This video explains photovoltaic cells and panels and how they work:

2.) Solar Heating - Heat from the sun's light is used to heat other objects or substances, then this heat energy is transferred to other places or things that can better utilize this heat to produce other types of energy.

The Newest Technologies Available

The most recent technologies, materials, and methods have demonstrated that there are more efficient ways to harness sun energy today than ever before in our history (other than just by plants and animals).

Here is a list of the most current and promising methods of capturing solar energy:

Solar Heating - Solar energy is used to heat or warm buildings in colder times of the year (or in colder locations). Many of these systems are now being built and used by people in the home.

Solar Cooling - Solar energy has been tested and used to actually cause a cooling effect when used to power condensers/evaporators.

Solar Turbines - Solar energy is used to heat liquids that create steam - which, in turn powers electric generators or turbines to create electricity.

Solar Panels - Solar power energy is captured and converted into electrical charges by the use of solar panels.

Solar Cooking - Solar power can be utilized for cooking. This method is much cleaner and better than using propane or electricity for energy.

One Man’s Experiences in Solar Cooking *Please visit our partner site for some practical and interesting ideas, along with useful information on how you too can take advantage of one of the ways of harnessing the abundant energy of our sun by using it for Solar Cooking.

The Solar Future

Researchers at MIT have significantly improved existing solar collectors using dyes. They just increased their performance results by a factor of 4. These paint-on materials can increase the power obtained from existing solar cells by a factor of over 40 without needing to track the sun.

By collecting light over their full surface and concentrating it at their edges, this new discovery by MIT can reduce the required area of solar cells and consequently, the cost of solar power. Stacking multiple concentrators allows the optimization of solar cells at each wavelength, increasing the overall power output.

Solar power energy can be one of the most promising forms of alternative energy available to you for a long time to come.

And as society grows and learns, and as we are forced away from conventional fossil fuels (from prices or shortages), we will find new and better ways to use the energy that is freely given to us everyday by our beautiful sun.

Return from Solar Power Energy to Home Page

footer for solar power energy page