Solar Energy is simply defined as the energy generated by the star called Sol, commonly referred to as the sun. Solar energy is experienced by people in the forms of heat and light.

Solar energy has been used and harnessed by Man since ancient times. Passive utilization of solar energy is as simple as hanging wet clothes outside to dry, cutting a hole in a dwelling to allow light to enter, or leaving a bowl of water to get warm in the sun.

It didn’t take long for man to realize that the sun’s energy could be manipulated to get greater benefit by magnifying or reflecting the suns rays, But it hasn’t been until relatively recently that we have been able to save this energy for later use, by means of storing the electrical energy in batteries.

Solar energy technologies can be used not only for heat and light, but also to cool spaces by means of heat absorption and vapor-compression refrigeration, as well as to generate electricity.

With energy costs rising every day, and the depletion of petroleum deposits in the earth, it only makes sense that we make use of the energy of the sun as much as possible. The main problem with relying on the sun for our energy needs is obvious - it’s not always there, and even when it is there, the strength of its rays varies by time of day, weather conditions, and season.

Solar energy can be converted into electricity by heat engine or photovoltaic means. It can even be used to cool spaces by means of absorption. Sunlight can be magnified to produce increased light and heat, and focused to start a fire.

But collecting and storing solar energy is not that easy. Because the sun doesn’t deliver that much energy to any one place at any one time, a large surface area is required to collect enough energy to be useful.

Photovoltaic energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell, or solar cell, is the technology used to convert solar energy directly into electrical power. These cells are usually made of silicon. When sunlight strikes the material, electrons are dislodged, creating an electrical current which can be captured and harnessed. The photovoltaic materials can be several individual solar cells or a single thin layer, which make up a larger solar panel. You are probably familiar with simple solar cells like those used in solar powered calculators.

Solar panels used to collect the sun’s energy have no moving parts, so once installed, they last a very long time. You just mount them outside (facing solar south in the northern hemisphere, or solar north in the southern hemisphere) hook up the wires, and collect the resulting power. No additional fuel or machinery is needed.

Retrofitting an existing home to use solar power can be expensive. However, for new construction, costs can be greatly reduced by positioning the home to make the best use of passive thermal energy, strategic use of insulation, and use of thermal window coverings.

Passive solar heaters can also be used to pre-heat your home’s hot water, thereby reducing the amount of heat required to raise the water temperature.

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