subject: Solar Energy Provides Low-cost, Clean Power [print this page] Solar Energy Provides Low-cost, Clean Power
The many advantages in using solar power are quickly becoming apparent, just when people are experiencing a critical need for them. We are living in a time when heightened awareness of the need to conserve natural resources has met with an urgent necessity for many people to conserve financial resources. The use of the sun, an infinitely renewable source of energy, for providing low-cost electrical power, is an appealing idea that is quickly gaining favor across all socio-economic lines.
The construction of new "Green" homes that use environmentally safe building materials as well as energy efficient appliances and power sources has resulted in a rise in the installation of solar panels to provide a long-term, inexpensive source of electricity. Not only does such a system supply the needed power for all household electrical usage, but also any excess electricity generated can be delivered to the local power grid. Added to the low maintenance costs and the long life of the cells, this can provide a sizable monetary benefit for households beyond the obvious savings for electricity.
Solar lights for outdoor illumination are another fine example of advantages in using solar power for energy and cost saving benefits when compared to the use of conventional wired lamps. Not only do they provide inexpensive lighting, but also they have the additional advantage of being easy to install and relocate. The soft illumination provided by low-wattage outdoor lighting can create the perfect ambiance for nighttime garden use, and the built-in photo sensors will automatically turn on at nightfall and turn off during daylight hours.
The financial advantages and minimal labor attributes of solar energy are made even more appealing by the environmental benefits it also provides. Conventional means of generating electricity by a utility company can require the burning of fossil fuels. Not only does this deplete fuel resources, but also it contributes to air pollution due to the release of carbon dioxide and other contaminants into the atmosphere.
Every technological leap forward reveals more uses for the clean and inexpensive energy of the sun. Many new portable devices and appliances are being manufactured that make use of solar energy, such as camping gear, radios, toys, security lights and iPod and laptop computer chargers. The advantages in using solar power are emerging just as quickly as the inventive and practical possibilities for its use.
