facts about Solar energy

Solar energy has been gathered by people and used for all kinds of purposes for over 2000 years. It’s a renewable type of energy and only a small percent of us use it right now.

Solar is the main source of energy for all of earths life forms and it’s a clean one. If you use solar energy to create electric you’re doing your part to help the environment.

Although a small amount of pollution is created when the solar panels are manufactured, transported and installed, it’s nothing compared to the amounts of pollution created in processing and using fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

Solar energy can be used in many ways, from cooking food to heating or cooling houses, powering automobiles and aircraft and providing energy to buildings.

Below are some interesting facts about solar energy:

• One megawatt of energy can power 1000 average U.S homes for about one hour.
• In July 2012 the first ever intercontinental round trip of a solar powered plane completed it’s 4,000 mile project to raise public awareness that solar energy can be a reliable source of energy.
• In July 2012 the United States Bureau of Land Management announced that 285,000 acres across 6 of the nations states were prime areas for solar energy development and plans to move forward.
• The largest solar plant in the world can be found in the Mojave desert and can create approximately 354 megawatts and it covers a total of about 1,000 acres,with 9 solar thermal plants.
• Solar energy can only be produced during daylight to make electricity. That energy has to be used during the night but the production stops when the sun goes down.
• Solar panels which are also known as photovoltaic panels are made mostly from silicon.
• Researchers are working on a solar window film that could eventually be used on the windows of homes to reduce energy costs. Researchers say it could possibly even be sprayed on one day.
• Even though you have to invest more initially to buy the solar panels, with  solar panel costs dropping, you should now be able to save money.
• Robots that install solar panels around the clock and in all types of weather are current being developed and tested.
• Solar power history dates back to at least 700 BC, when the sun rays were used to create fire, with the help of magnifying glasses.
• Passive solar designs were used for the first time by Romans and Greeks. Their buildings were facing south, so the sun could light and heat the indoor areas.
• The year when the first solar panels were released was 1956. Two years later space programs began using them and they remained an important source of energy ever since. One example is the International Space Station, which uses solar energy.
• We’re working to grow the interesting facts about solar energy page so be sure to remember to come back.