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.
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.
September 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.
September 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!
September 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!
September 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...
September 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"?
September 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...
September 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!
September 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 [...]
September 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.
September 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.
September 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!
September 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
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Liam, that's great! Good for you
October 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.
October 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.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Some cities have grants that they give out for installing solar panels and other solar power in your home. That might be worth a try. Also, we know that the technology to use solar power and other renewable energy is out there. It's just a matter of convincing the lionshare of consumers that using them is beneficial in many ways. I'm starting with something easy by installing solar powered lights for my front yard. That should be easy enough to do for me.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
As a provider of solar services I must say I agree with your post
.Seriously though, solar does have tons of benefits and I'm happy to say that in the past couple years I see us trending closer and closer for alternative energy being a norm.
February 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Solar systems are most certainly starting to become recognized, it's interesting to see how they fare amongst the financial uncertainty of today.
The initial investment seems to be the sticking point for most folk, however, the routine savings you make in the long run far outbalance the first sting!
February 9th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Having solar panels at home is very useful. There are some people who don't use solar panels because they said it's expensive to buy but they don't know that they can save much much more if they use solar panels. They can save energy and they can also save money from their electricity bill. Solar panels are low maintenance and eco-friendly. I do hope that many homes will use solar panels soon.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
You mention that if more energy is produced than used by solar energy it can be sold back to the grid. I think only certain states require this of electric companies and in other states you only get a credit on your account or something of that nature.
March 11th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Renewable Energy Future said:
It's definitely worth looking into.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
So all of this info on solar stuff is really helping me out. I have to do a huge presentation for school, and everyone has chosen an alternative source of energy. My group and i chose Solar, and we are debating against other sources, such as geothermal, wind power, tidal power, and hydro-electric. This blog has helped me. If you have any other info on the BENEFITS of solar power, or some helpful websites that will maybe give me some statistics about how many people actually use solar panels.. that would definately help.
Thanks!
March 12th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Solar energy is really very helpful and it is natural energy so, we can save electricity, save money and save environment.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
With solar panels windmills and the whole systems becoming so affordable I cant see why more people are not looking into these types of energy to power their homes, it could very well save the planet.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I can say that I am looking into ways of putting up solar panels. Unfortunately the way my house is setup at the moment it's not very cost effective. Not unless I cut down a bunch of trees which I don't want to do.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
[...] year, most of which are small homemade systems. Learn how to make your own solar panels and use the benefits of solar energy to your [...]
April 7th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Solars pretty cool said:
Glad we could help! Check out http://solarfeeds.com for more solar info, it collects articles on solar energy from around the net.
houston, I think people fear the initial investment of sustainable energy.
build your own solar panel, I definitely understand the hesitation to cut down trees!
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 am
Don't forgot the amount that having a solar power system adds to the value of your home!
May 14th, 2009 at 7:59 am
@micro-transaction - Nice! My goal is to go off the grid within 5 years (including raising chickens, goats, garden, etc).
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
We are planning on reducing our grid use. We only have 1.6 acres, and very little wind, so we won't be doing the full farm and alternate power solution.
But, we have chickens, goats next yet, and two portable solar panels (should be ready in a month or so).
June 17th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I hope to one day get solar panels, but currently im in rental accomodation.
July 10th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
The future is solar energy, the only thing was that in the past for our misfortune it was expensive to get this type of green energy. As well as wind energy.
Our government should focus on promoting these types of energies so we can get past over the oil crisis.
I hope people take action towards a more green planet earth.