Green (Environmental)
» Solar energy is about as natural a source of energy as you can get. Energy from solar panels is sustainable and renewable, unlike our current major sources of energy.» It does not contribute to global warming, as it does not contaminate the air by releasing carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
» The use of solar energy for homes and businesses can help reduce transport of fuel that would otherwise be used for heating, further reducing carbon emissions.
Green (Money)
» You may feel pocket shock upon installation of your solar energy system, but after the initial shock, solar energy can save you money.» Your electric bill can drastically decrease, or disappear all together, depending on the size of your system. If you have gas heating, you will save even more (and more, and more, as the prices continue to rise).
» The government offers different incentives for solar energy projects, depending on where you live. These can include loans, tax deductions, and more.
» Net metering: If your solar energy system creates more energy than you use, you can sell it to your utility company.
Self-Sufficient / Low Maintenance
» Eliminate worry in the event of a power outage. No more losing hundreds of dollars in groceries (I've experienced this one before...).» Solar energy systems don't require a connection to any grids, so they can be installed in remote locations. This can bring electricity to areas that otherwise would not have seen it.
» The use of solar energy means lowering our dependence on foreign energy sources.
» Once installed, solar panels require little to no maintenance and have no recurring costs.
Solar panels are made of silicon. When they are hit by sunlight, the electrons of the silicon flow through wires that are built into the panels, which creates the electricity. The earth receives more energy from the sun in one hour than the population of the world uses in an entire year, so solar energy, although initially expensive, is a viable option for a sustainable and renewable energy source.
This post was written by Stefanie.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I'd definitely get solar energy if I lived in my own house. Unfortunately I just rent a apartment so the only choice I can make is to choose electricity company.
This is a interesting blog. I'll definitely come back to read more of your posts since I'm very interested in living green and organic.
Quote This CommentSeptember 17th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I'm all about solar energy BUT solar panels do contribute to global warming and do releases carbon into the air. During operation solar panels are a very clean form of energy but the manufacturing processes required to create solar panels are very oil intensive and require lots of heavy machinery to make the panels.
In fact, there's been studies where if you count the manufacturing process some solar panels (especially smaller ones) have larger carbon footprints than coal. Now, I still think overall if we were to set up huge solar panel plants in the desert we'd be better off than having coal plants continuously spewing carbon into the air, but they're not 100% clean (nothing is really).
For what it's worth, I'd love to buy a few windmills and go off the grid and might get my family together to do so. Wind power has its own faults (birds might get hit by the blades) but wind mills don't rely on a limited resource (silicon) so I'd put them a little bit above solar panels.
Quote This CommentSeptember 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I'd get as well by to recoup those costs of initial setup could take years!!! I hope the prices keep dropping and better technology comes out because I really want this for my next house!
Quote This CommentSeptember 19th, 2008 at 9:59 am
About two years ago I helped my father in law install 14 panels on the family farm. Two years later, they are officially off the grid and actually selling electricity back to the local power company.
@Angelica - I've often wondered what a solar panel array in a major city could do. Wouldn't that be an amazing accomplishment? Not only to power the building itself from solar power, but an entire city? Wow!
Quote This CommentSeptember 19th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Angelica, we, too, live in a shared building (condos), so we can't enjoy solar power, either.
Adam, ha, I was actually waiting for something to talk about the manufacturing processes of solar panels. I thought about adding that to the article, but I was really only writing about its benefits this time. It's another one of those "lesser of two evils" debates.
Green Products, yes, it probably would take years to recoup the costs, but after that, you'd be saving a lot.
Micro, that is awesome for your father in law! I'm glad it worked out for him. And I would love to see a whole city powered by solar power...
Quote This CommentSeptember 20th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Yep, it's about time to maximize the use of solar power, since it's a environmental friendly, and non-polluted renewable energy, it's far better than petroleum for sure!
By the way, did anyone know about the "Solar Panel Paint"?
Quote This CommentSeptember 20th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Every time when I read about using solar energy, I feel extremely sad. It is such a great invention, but I am "lucky" to live in the country where there are very little sunny days. Will be looking forward for somebody to invent something like "cloud" or "rain" energy...
Quote This CommentSeptember 20th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Wilson, I hadn't heard of solar panel paint, but I did just look it up. A very interesting idea!
Quote This CommentSeptember 20th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
[...] Information Esther Hoover at Get the Word Out wrote a summary of all kinds of alternative energy - Benefits of Solar Energy | Focus Organic.com Stefanie blogs about solar energy at Focus [...]
Quote This CommentSeptember 21st, 2008 at 1:13 am
Polina, you should google geothermal energy or look for a small windmill. I'd assume that if it's cold it's windy, and if not geothermal works by taking energy from the ground and I think can be used everywhere.
Stefanie, hmmm, I don't like lesser of two evil debates. I'm a 3rd party kinda guy.
I'm all for solar panels though because in my mind it's still better to exude all that nasty pollution the one time during manufacturing rather than over and over and over again as with coal and gas.
Quote This CommentSeptember 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
My mom's house has solar panels on its roof. All the heating for water and showering, is getting its energy from the solar panels.
It's good to work green, and it also saves some money.
Quote This CommentSeptember 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Adam, I understand the 3rd party thing! If more people were 3rd party people, maybe we could have an independent president
Arjen, good for your mom!
Quote This CommentSeptember 26th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I just got Solar energy panels for my own hows, I love it, Im glad Im making something for our planet too
Quote This CommentOctober 3rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Liam, that's great! Good for you
Quote This CommentOctober 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I work as an electrician in the Seattle area and lately we have done a lot more of the electrical connections back to the electric company. It is great to see it happen and I plan to change our house too in the next couple of years, even if the days are cloudy as it is here sometimes for days on end. You still get enough energy out of a well planned system to keep your stuff running and even if you supplement a bit from the electric company you get it back when your at work and its a sunny day, so it evens out pretty good.
Quote This CommentOctober 20th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
an earlier post says that solar contributes to global warming but nearly everything does. Cows breaking wind does. However, pollution is reduced dramatically. Solar energy doesn't pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, mercury or other harmful fumes into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does.
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