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 . . .Apart From The Fact That We Don’t Use More Of It

The sun, (so we are told and we have no reason to disbelieve the learned types who study these things), is without doubt THE best source of energy there is . . . it’s so strong that in one single hour it could provide enough energy for the earths inhabitants to last them a whole year. Got you thinking huh? So why don’t we use more of it?  Solar power can provide us with all of the power we need, it won’t spoil anything, contribute to the greenhouse effect or global warning, and it won’t ever run out – well, not for the next few billion years anyway. Perhaps we ought to look at some more amazing but true solar power facts.

Solar Power Facts

• Solar power is both a viable AND a renewable source of energy, massive source of energy actually.
• Solar power doesn’t cause pollution, so using more solar power would help to keep our breathable air – breathable.
• Solar power can be used for lots of different things – all of the lighting and heating energy for our homes including heating our water, cooking our food, drying our clothes, powering inside and outside lights, heating up the swimming pool, even powering some specially designed automobiles.

Some people are just so clever . . . solar power really doesn’t have to cost a fortune does it, with just a little imaginagion.

• Solar power systems, unfortunately, have historically been pretty expensive meaning that it could be a long time before any financial investment was paying its way, but things are changing, technology is improving and the installation of solar power systems is becoming more affordable every  year.
• Solar power was used in 1990 to fly the first solar energy aircraft across the United States, using solar power and nothing else.
• Solar power panels do take up quite a lot of space, so if you want to generate lots of energy efficiently then you need lots of land. According to Greenpeace however, even the UK (which is both extremely small and often well behind on the sunshine stakes), could meet around 66% of its electricity needs using solar panels on the roofs of buildings which are already there.
• Having said that, hot water solar power systems take up very little space at all, they can be installed onto the roof of a house (for example) and provide the household with lashings of hot water both day and night.

• Solar power systems are becoming compulsory in some countries, after all, some countries do enjoy wall to wall sunshine for much of the year, what a waste. Anyway, more and more new houses are being built with solar power built in, especially those hot water systems I’ve just told you about.
• Solar power isn’t well used in the United States, but that’s probably because the price of oil hasn’t made it into such an issue until recently. Many European countries which haven’t had the luxury of reasonably priced oil but lots of sunshine have a rapidly growing number of solar farms to help fulfil their energy needs.
• Solar power isn’t only available when the sun is shining, technology has been working hard to develop efficient storage systems so that you can draw on your supply of solar power even after the sun has gone to bed.

• Solar power systems can produce their energy quietly, they don’t make noises unlike some other forms of renewable energy (wind turbines spring to mind, although I still rather like them).
• Solar power is, for all intents and purposes, a case of install and forget. They last ages and don’t require much maintenance, so once you’re up and running you can almost forget about it.

• Solar power systems can be increased simply by adding more solar panels, so you can easily add to your stash at a later date if you feel the need.
• Solar power panels covering just 4 per cent of the deserts in the world could provide the whole world with its energy needs. To put it in prospective, the Sahara covers more than 9 million square kilometers, and only 640,000 square kilometers would be needed for the solar panels, however, it would be a bit of a target for terrorists so perhaps it’s not such a bright idea – makes you think though don’t it.