Solar Energy Basics
For the Home Solar Enthusiast

Solar Energy Basics

Solar, a Latin word for sun, comes from the sun and is used to heat, cool, grow plants, light homes, and even create wind and ocean currents. An interesting fact about solar energy is that more solar energy hits the earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in an entire year.

With this much available free energy, people all over the world should tap this power source. While large portions of the governments around the world are utilizing more solar energy technology, it will not become the prime source anytime in the near future. To understand the solar energy basics one needs to understand how it is used and what is available.

Passive Solar Energy Basics

The first type of solar energy is passive energy. Passive solar technology is seen in passive heating and day lighting. For example, in architecture, it is a fact that the south side of a building in the United States receives the most sunlight.

Therefore, a building designed to take advantage of passive solar energy will have large, south-facing windows or doors that will bring in the most sunlight. Additionally, materials inside the house can be purchased to absorb and store the sun’s heat and release this energy at night when it is needed the most.

Another passive use of solar energy is in the form of sun-spaces or lighting tubes. This feature is utilizing architecture to provide lighting throughout the house. While this may sound simple, proper consideration of passive solar lighting can save hundreds of dollars each year avoiding the need to use light bulbs.

Active Solar Energy Basics

The opposite of passive solar energy is active solar energy. The primary application of active solar energy is seen in concentrating solar power for heating and the generation of electricity. In solar heating systems, the sun is focused using heat absorbing materials and mirrors in a combination that heats a liquid which is then used to boil water and drive an electric generator.

In solar electrical systems photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to convert light energy in the form of photons to electrical energy in the form of voltage. The PV cells were discovered in the mid 1950s when scientists discovered that silicon creates an electrical charge when exposed to light.

This technology is used in small scale operations such as watches and calculators and large scale operations such as solar energy electrical generation grids and large scale solar panels attached to businesses and homes. Currently, research is being done to find other materials that work better than silicon in the creation of PV cells.

Solar Energy Basic Factors

As a homeowner researching the use of solar energy as a source of alternative energy, the main factors to consider are cost effectiveness, where to use solar energy, and options regarding the installation of a solar system. When considering the cost of a solar system, first consider all of the options available for both passive and active solar systems.

You want to come up with the best use of the various solar technologies. For example, since most homes in the United States receive the most sunlight on the south side of the home, you would want to install any solar panels and modules in a place to receive the most direct sunlight possible.

Spending large amounts of money solar paneling the north side of a home may not be worth the investment. Depending on one solar system is also not always the best option. Consider installing materials that absorb solar energy near large windows to maintain heat in the house and add any skylights and solar driven fans in attics.

These additions will help both cool and heat a home when needed and use less artificial lighting which overall reduces electric bills and carbon emissions. Finally, a move to use of solar energy systems in a home or business does not have to be a onetime inclusive project.

Home Solar Process

In many cases the best option when saving money and researching is to start with minor setups and minor steps and slowly let those shifts pay for a bigger shift in technology. For instance, purchase one solar panel and let the savings from that panel pay for another and another.

Combine all of these items with minor renovations and the initial start up cost is small and over a ten-year period any budget could be heavy users of solar energy and still be saving lots of money on the power bill.

Overall solar energy is a quick and easy approach for any homeowner. The basics of this alternative energy source are easy for anyone to understand and utilize.