What Is Solar Energy?
I am asked a lot "what is solar energy"? So I'll try to answer this in the simplest terms. Solar energy panels harness the sun's energy for practical ends such as producing electricity or heating water. These technologies can actually be traced back to the early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese, who heated their buildings by orienting them toward the sun.
The sun is our most powerful energy source. Made of hydrogen gas, it converts the hydrogen into helium and as a result nuclear energy waves are released into space. When this energy arrives at Earth, it drives the climate and supports virtually all life. Now, the most common way to use this energy is via a solar panel. A solar photovoltaic energy (solar pv) panel converts sunlight into heat to generate electricity. A solar heating collector heats water. Solar photovoltaic energy These solar cells are usually made out of silicon. When sunlight hits a solar cell it knocks free electrons into a electrical current. You can install these yourself, greatly reducing the cost. For more details click here. Solar water heating When the sun shines, the water in the pipe is heated and this hot water can then be stored in a tank underneath the house, saving you money on your heating bills. If you fancy installing solar power but don't have a clue where to look for the best deals, I have some good news. I have teamed up with Amazon UK and Amazon US to bring you the very best deals on solar products. For our US store click here. For our UK store click here. Useful articles For a more in-depth summary go to what is solar energy - a detailed analysis. Click on our solar power gadgets for great gift ideas. To return to our waste of energy page. To return to our solar energy home page.
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