subject: Understanding The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Solar Power [print this page] With the worries of global warming and overconsumption becoming more and more important to Americans and foreigners alike, it is no wonder why scientists and environmentalists are stressing the need for alternative forms of energy. Traditionally, the majority of our power has been collected and generated by the burning of fossil fuels, which have taken thousands of years to form.
These are retrieved from the earth and can be used with nuclear generators as well as the motors of vehicles depending upon which compound they are and how they are used. Because it has taken so long for these substances to form deep in the crust of the earth, they are considered a nonrenewable resource that takes much longer to create than to mine and use.
Not only are these difficult to obtain and form, they also can cause pollution when they are burned. The lack of clean burning fuels has caused an immense problem with air quality and has created an increase in cases of acid rain and other damaging environmental phenomenon.
Since the majority of these problems have occurred because of the burning of these types of substances, there has been a large push to find other methods to power the world's homes, buildings, and vehicles that are renewable and do not leave such a large carbon footprint. Some of the methods that have been used in the past are geothermal, wind, and water energy.
However, many of these are not as reliable or powerful as it takes to dole out energy to certain areas and places. Another form of alternative energy is solar power, which has steadily been increasing in usage over the past five to ten years.
Solar energy is harnessed through the use of solar cells that are collected into panels which can be placed on the roof of homes and buildings or be free standing. Also called photovoltaic cells or modules, these objects collect the UV rays that are present in sunlight and are able to turn them into energy through a very specific process.
During this process, the electrons that are present in the UV light are separated and collected into a channel that can be harnessed and then gathered in a generator. These generators can be attached to homes and buildings to give them power.
This method of power is especially helpful in areas that receive a great deal of sunlight, and they can drastically improve both the usage and cost of power in homes. Many individuals find that they save far more in their monthly budget after switching to solar panels.
When contemplating how we can make better use of this method, it is best to first consider the pros and cons of doing so. First off, it is usually initially pretty expensive to purchase and install the photovoltaic cells and modules.
Because of the materials that are used to create them as well as the transporting and setting up, they may cost thousands of dollars. However, many states and even the United States federal government have developed tax rebates or refunds for those that choose to utilize this up and coming form of power.
Another possible drawback is that it cannot be used everywhere. There are some places, both in America and internationally, that simply do not receive enough true sunlight to collect and give life to a generator. Individuals in these areas may end up spending a great deal of money without being able to see the benefits on their monthly bills.
Solar panels need a lot of surface area, whether on top of a home or in an open space; the larger they are and the more UV rays they are able to collect, the more energy they can generate. Also, pollution in the air can lessen the functioning of them because it blocks UV rays from reaching the surface.
However, they are one of the most durable forms of power; they have proven to wear out very slowly, even in space. They can also utilize smaller lenses to take a beam of sunlight and expand it into a larger one.
They are essentially clean, and the only pollution that they generate is that that is used to create them. Solar energy is renewable, because the sun does not stop delivering UV rays to the earth's surface.
Understanding the benefits of this method can help Americans make better choices regarding how they get their electricity. Perform research if photovoltaic panels sound beneficial to you!
