subject: Tapping the energy of the sun for domestic use [print this page] Tapping the energy of the sun for domestic use
Solar power is one of the first things many people turn their minds to when thinking about renewable sources of energy. Not so very long ago, the idea of converting the rays of the sun into electricity to run our washing machine or boil the kettle for a cup of tea might have seemed like a fanciful idea or a distant dream. This is no longer the case with the advent of solar panels onto the market.
Solar panels can be installed on the roof of your house or as a standalone facility to convert light from the sun into electricity for your domestic use. Explained in simple terms, the technology involved is just an expanded version of the process that is used in simple calculators which run on solar powered-batteries, or those top-up solar chargers which are available to vehicle drivers from electronic shops. This technology is known as photovoltaic: through the process, the light from the rays of the sun is converted into electricity to run your household equipment or to be stored in rechargeable batteries and used on demand. It's a bit like having your own mini electricity-generating station, but without the need for oil or coal or nuclear material supplies - or the pollution and toxic emissions of conventional power-generating plants.
The use of solar panels is one of the best available energy options available on the market today, and it is increasingly getting within reach of the ordinary householder. There are options to choose from: you can get solar panels fitted to supply the electricity needs of your household or just to supply hot water for your domestic use.
There are multiple benefits in using solar panels: as mentioned above, this is more environmentally friendly and less polluting than the traditional sources of energy such as coal, oil or nuclear power stations. There is less toxic waste or excessive release of carbon dioxide gases into the environment. Further, there is no danger of the environmentally-damaging oil-spills we've seen in the recent past. By switching to the use of solar panels, you're giving support to the development of technologies which support sustainable solutions to the global energy issues.
Once installed, solar panels require minimal maintenance. As such, this source of power is great as a longer term investment: the average cost of your electricity supply will work out to be cheaper than supplies from regular sources.
The technology can be used in normal suburban housing, as well as in more complex structures such as office blocks. For example, photovoltaic solar panels were installed on the roof of City Hall in London in August 2007. The panels provide solar power for the building, converting sunlight into electricity with no waste and no emissions.
Solar panels are also eminently suitable for remote locations such as farm houses, where you're far from the national grid.
At the worst of forecasts, the sun is going to be around for quite a few billion years to come. So the more we turn to technologies which can harness and use this abundant supply of potential energy, the better it will be for our household budget, as well as for the environment in general.
