Solar Energy

Is power from the sun

Solar Energy comes to us from the Sun, a burning star of flaming gases 149.6 million miles away from Earth. In fact the very word Solar comes from the Latin word Sol, meaning the Sun. Thus Solar means from the Sun.

No life, as we know it, could exist without the Sun's energy. Everything on our Planet Earth depends on the warmth and light from the Sun. For if the Sun ever "went out" or if its rays were blocked, the temperatures on our planet would continue dropping until all life on The Earth became extinct.

Without the Sun's warmth, all of our water — including the oceans and rivers — would freeze solid. And without the sun's warmth and light, all plant life would die off. The animals which eat plants are in turn eaten by other animals, so all life forms would die out without that solar energy or solar power.

Solar energy is free to the Earth and all its plants and animals, and much of it is free to those human beings who understand how to make use of it. And that's what this website is about; harnessing that free energy which comes from the Sun.

The most simple way of using solar energy is to allow the light rays to warm objects. Thus when the sun shines on your skin, you immediately feel warm. When the sunshine warms the mud, brick, concrete or stone of your house, that heat is retained for hours, and can be slowly disappated (given off) during the hours of darkness. The thermal mass of your home stores the Sun's heat energy, and it releases slowly during the night and keeps your home warm. That's why traditional houses in hot climates were usually built with as little thermmal mass as possible. They got hot as hell during the day, but at least they cooled of rapidly after dark so you could sleep.

Thermal mass, on the other hand retains the heat from the sun and releases it slowly all night. That's where thick brick, concrete or rammed-earth walls are great. And so are concrete slabs under the home, especially if it can be warmed by the winter sunlight but shaded from the summer sun as well.

Those are simple examples of solar heating. They were passive systems, in that once built they continue to work tirelessly — without moving parts or further energy input. You don't need electricity or household gas to power such a system.

Another non-electric system is that which is used to produce solar hot water. The solar panels are filled with water, and are non-electric.

Most household solar power comes from a solar panel which catches sunshine and produces solar electricity from that (or any other) strong light. That electricity can be used right away or may be saved to storage batteries. Since the batteries can be damaged by overcharging or excessive discharge, you will need a battery regulator to protect them.

While batteries can be used to power low power lighting systems, you will eventually need a DC to AC inverter to run most household appliances and electric tools. You can still run 12v appliances, such as car stereos and many small portable TV sets from battery power alone.