From a young age, a child comes to appreciate the warmth of the sun's rays. He or she thus develops a basic understanding of solar energy. Introduction of the solar panel has allowed adults to achieve an efficient transfer of the sun's power.
Thermal use of nature's power has taken place in three different ways. For centuries mankind has used the sun to heat water and limited amounts of air. More recently, man has enjoyed the advantages linked to the photovoltaic use of nature's powerful and hot rays. A third way of using the sun's power has been described as "passive."
A growing number of architects have chosen to utilize that third method. They design buildings that maximize a building's ability to receive and use nature's rays. They plan for introduction of lots of windows, along with incorporation of the all important panels.
Such panels permit photovoltaic use of solar energy. They trap the sun's rays and use them to create an electron flow. In some homes they become part of a grid-tie system. In other homes they are linked to a battery charging system. In either case, they help to keep electrons flowing into the home's electrical outlets.
Still, photovoltaic (PV) use of solar energy has not been limited to inclusion of panels in private dwellings. It has included their incorporation into signaling systems, such as those that facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. At the same time, it has provided ship captains with more reliable buoys and with lighthouses that do not depend on an outside source of electricity.
The engineers that design buildings appreciate the value of the PV panels. They can power warning devices, such as those that signal the development of corrosive damage on a bridge or other important structure. Society has seen how the reliable performance of such devices can save lives.
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