Getting the Facts About Solar Energy

Posted by seolink on June 16th, 2010 filed in Global Warming

Facts about solar energy help you to understand how solar energy works and how you can save some dollars without having to run a high energy bill. Solar energy is a inexhaustible resource and of the earliest method of energy use that is available at present. The critical fact about solar energy is that the sun s beams are so powerful that if we are to convert that into energy it would mean that Earth will never run out of energy for at least another 4.5 billion years according to scientists.  Sun never create any hazardous by-product which could harm the environment.

During the early fifties solar energy was looked upon as an alternative to man made energy resources. Through much research it was found energy could be obtained at much cheaper source. With a constant figure of 20% – 25% demand growth year-by-year, the solar energy demand increases for last two decades. Solar energy is able to support household gadgets, lighting and water heaters. As of the minute, solar energy is more heavy priced but in the near future with the growth in technological studies, it will bring down the costs and also growth its efficiency. By 2025, it is expected to generate 2.5% of the world energy demand through solar energy. Solar energy can be considered as the fastest growing technology.

There are some primary facts about solar energy that one needs to be acquainted to; solar energy is measured in kilowatt hours and 1 kilowatt=100 watts. One kilowatt hour is equal to the amount of electrical energy which is needed to burn 100 watt light bulb for around 10 hours. 866 kilowatt is the use by an average American household. The Residential Energy use Survey conducted in 2001 shows that an annual energy bill was around $2000.

A reduction in unit costs has contributed towards an growth in growth rates and thereby making it an important energy resource. After year 2000, solar energy has shown a growth rate of 40% per annum. Solar energy is moving at a raising rate in the developing countries too as the consumption of fossil fuel has doubled over the years. When compared to solar energy which is unlimited, fossil fuel reserves are decreasing.  Setting up solar energy gadgets is relatively easier in the more remote areas in comparison for setting up an expensive power grid structure. A disadvantage of fossil fuels is that the prices have risen together with the price of transporting coal, oil and gas.