| When the electrical utility bill is increasing each and | | | | structure. This system can be used to provide |
| every month you can do a few things. You can | | | | heat to houses, water, and so on. |
| cry and pull out your hair; refuse to pay and get | | | | The second classification involves the solar panels |
| cut off and have no utilities; you could work | | | | or the group of solar cells. These panels are |
| harder and more hours each month to keep up | | | | placed in such away that its exposure to the |
| the rising costs; or you could invest in other | | | | sunlight is maximized. It will convert sunlight to |
| alternative sources of energy to cut the electrical | | | | electricity, which is transformed later on from |
| utility bill. One of these alternative sources of | | | | direct current (DC) electricity to alternate current |
| energy is solar energy. And indeed, you will need | | | | (AC) electricity, and consumed it immediately or |
| to invest that means putting in your own (or | | | | store it in batteries. It may be also fed into the |
| borrowed) money, but the investment can make | | | | grid system of the local utility. |
| a huge difference for now and many years to | | | | The Pros and Cons of Solar Power |
| come. | | | | There are some disadvantages of using solar |
| Solar energy is derived from the power emitted | | | | power. These are the following: |
| by the sun to produce energy. The sun emits | | | | * Initial costs on installation of solar power |
| enough energy on the Earth in one day to supply | | | | systems can be quite expensive. |
| the needs of the world for one year. The amount | | | | * Cloudy weather condition can be a problem in |
| of solar power that the Earth receives from the | | | | collecting solar power for some systems. |
| sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an | | | | * If you live in area where there is little sun shine |
| amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all | | | | this will be a problem. |
| energy resources we are using, may it be nuclear, | | | | * Solar power can not be produced at night. |
| geothermal, or gravitational energy. The estimated | | | | There are numerous advantages of using solar |
| remaining life of the sun is around 4.5 billion years. | | | | power. These are enumerated in the following |
| Solar power is produced primarily through the use | | | | items: |
| of photovoltaic cells, or commonly known as the | | | | * Solar power is almost limitless. Remember that |
| solar cells. The process of converting solar power | | | | the remaining life span of the sun is estimated to |
| into electricity is as follows: The solar cells are | | | | be 4.5 billion years. |
| placed under direct sunlight. The rays of the sun | | | | * It is relatively abundant. |
| hits the cells initiating a chemical reaction that | | | | * It can be absorbed, reflected, transmitted, and |
| creates an electric current. This current is later | | | | insulated. |
| turned into electricity. | | | | * It can be stored in batteries for night time use. |
| There are two classification of solar power: | | | | Using solar power is not only a solid investment |
| passive solar and active solar. The first | | | | for years to come it also saves the environment. |
| classification does not make use of panel systems | | | | Thus this investment is not doesn't only saves |
| or other moving mechanisms to produce solar | | | | you money but you making this world a better |
| power. Instead, it involves planning a structure in | | | | place to live in for years to come. Investing in |
| such a way that it can capture the rays of the | | | | solar power is worth your money, don't overlook |
| sun with windows, tanks, and other permanent | | | | the potential. |