Solar Energy Facts

There are many solar energy facts that people today do no know or understand. Understanding the importance of our sun and how it can lead to energy independence is important fro all of us to know.

Below are some important to help assist in your understanding.

General Basic Facts about the Sun's Power

• The sun is an infinite source of energy. This source will never run out in our life time.
• The sun's light travels about 93 million miles to earth.
• Power from the sun is environmentally friendly and does not pollute the atmosphere with greenhouse gasses as do fossil fuels.
• Power from the sun can be used for just about all our energy needs; whether we use it to dry our clothes, heat our domestic how water, power our electronics or charge the batteries of a recreational vehicle.
• Sunlight can be used to cook our food.
• Sunlight can help purify water in special stills.
• Sunlight can provide heat the water to swimming pools.
• Sunlight can provide lighting in and outside our homes.
• The sun can provide electricity for home's solar attic fan, small appliances, solar fountains for the garden and even seasonal outdoor solar Christmas lights.




Other Facts about Sunlight

• The amount of sunlight earth receives from its sun in one hour is enough to power the earth for one year.
• To heat hot water from the sun, thermal energy is used.
• To generate electricity, photovoltaic panel technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy.
• To create electric energy with steam turbines, the sun's thermal energy would be used.
• The great 15th century scientist/astronomer/inventor Leonardo de Vinci had developed plans for various renewable technologies using sunlight.
• Electricity generated by photovoltaic panels can be stored in batteries.
• Photovoltaic and thermal systems on home can last 20-30 years.
• The sun is the force behind weather changes, ocean currents, rivers flowing and the wind blowing.