Advantages of Solar Energy

The Benefits of Solar Power at Home.

Advantages of Solar Energy. Solar power is the most abundant of all of the renewable energy options and has amazing benefits and endless possibilities for the future of home power.

There are more than just environmental advantages to solar power, although those alone justify the interest and investment in solar.

advantages of solar energy

In all of solar energy history the benefits of solar power have never been as bountiful. Now that the cost of solar energy is dropping and new technologies such as thin film photovoltaics are emerging, solar energy has become a powerhouse in the energy industry.

There's no question that a major shift must occur in how we power our lives. Understanding the advantages of solar energy and making sure the industry addresses the disadvantages will set solar up as top dog in the renewable energy sector.

Here's a look at the benefits of Passive, Thermal, Photovoltaic and Thin Film solar power at home.

Advantages of Solar Energy ~ Passive

Passive solar power is energy that is collected by manipulating an environment to make the best use of the solar energy available on a property. The sunlight available, orientation of the house, placement of windows and doorways and the angle of the sun will all play a role in how effectively you'll be able to use passive sun energy.

Quick Payback.
Funds spent on plantings, landscaping and thermal materials have a rapid payback. Many of these items would have been purchased in any case. It's the strategic use of these materials that produce the passive solar effect.
Environmentally Benign.
Clean and green - the use of passive energy decreases the use of non-renewable resources. Most of your home heating and cooling needs can be met by using the sunlight available on your property.
Attractive.
Passive energy concepts can beautify a property at the same time as making it more energy efficient.
Increases Home Value.
Attention to environmental details is a hot selling feature on the real estate markets. Passive solar layout & landscaping concepts increase the value of a home.
Free Energy Source
Passive solar is free energy and can save you thousands of dollars over your home's lifetime while keeping you and your family more comfortable.

advantages of solar energy

Advantages of Solar Energy ~ Thermal

Rapid Payback
A solar power water heater will pay for itself within 1 to 6 years then continue heating your water or pool free for 15 or so years after that.
Reduces Carbon Release
Your contribution of carbon dioxide to the environment will be reduced by 50 tons over the next 20 years simply by heating your water with solar energy.
Free Fuel
Once you have the system there is no cost for fuel and the price never goes up.
No Environmental Impact
Eliminates the negative environmental impact of transporting, digging for and burning fuel.
No Fuel Tax
Gotta love it!
Easy DIY Projects
Because of the basic simplicity of solar thermal, systems such as water and swimming pool heaters they are an easy and cheap project for the Do-it-yourselfer.

Here Tom Hayden shares all the information you'll need to make your own solar water heater.
Rapidly Renewable
The most abundant renewable fuel source on the planet.

passive solar power 2

Advantages of Solar Energy ~ Photovoltaics & Thin Film

Cost of Fuel.
The fuel to power solar devices is free and the source is unlimited.
No Fuel Taxes.
I love this one. Our governments have yet to figure out a way to tax sunshine. I'm sure they're working on it though.
Home Equity.
Although you can take a solar system with you when you move, one of the advantages of solar energy residential systems - of any size - is that they will increase the value of the home if you leave them in place.
Renewable Fuel Source.
The most abundant source of energy available in the world, the sun spills enough energy on the earth in 40 minutes to power every outlet on the globe for 1 year.
Environmentally Friendly.
The use of solar energy produces no emissions or noise making them friendly to the owners of a solar power system and to the global village in general.
No Carbon Emissions
Solar eliminates the need to dig for, transport and burn fossil fuels.
Low Maintenance
Little to no maintenance is required to keep a solar powered system functional. Maintaining batteries is the biggest maintenance issue and only if yours is an off grid system. Grid tied systems rarely have need of a battery bank.
Blackout Protection
An off grid residential solar power system is completely independent of the conventional power grid. Solar energy systems are not affected by grid power outages or rolling brownouts.
Odour Free
No smelly by-products are produced as a result of solar energy use.
No Moving Parts
Panels will quietly collect energy for 40 plus years and manufacturers aren't afraid to back them up with 20 to 25 year warranties. It was believed in the 60's and 70's that a solar power system would function for around 20 years. We're now seeing that most systems established at that time are still functional. It is now believed that solar energy systems will last 40 or more years.
Remote locations
Cabins, sailboats, RV's, these are places where we really see the advantages of solar energy. Solar power is often much more cost effective to establish in remote areas than conventional power.
Independence
There's something liberating about living without need of the grid. I'm writing this using solar power aboard our sailboat which is anchored in Melaque, Mexico.
Self Sufficiency
Terrorism, pandemic, hurricane and all manner of calamity threaten as fuel prices climb to an unknown pinnacle. Who isn't wondering about the alternatives? Solar can fulfill energy needs even in the complete absence of the conventional power grid. Disasters such as that, which occurred in Japan to the nuclear power plant, underline the need for more benign sources of energy.

The more politically and environmentally unstable our global situation becomes the brighter the advantages of solar power shine. A solar power home can avoid being in the line of fire over fuel costs and availability while benignly providing clean fuel for it's occupants for nearly half a century.

I Have an Idea.

It's just a simple idea from a lowly steward of this earth,
here it is... If we have to change our source of fuel eventually anyway (and it sure looks like we do) why don't we do it before we alter the earth and her atmosphere beyond redemption.

As I said, it's just a simple idea from a passenger on this bus.

The advantages of solar power make it a viable solution for the future of the planet. Combined with other renewable resources the benefits of solar energy are enormous.

As energy prices soar skyward and environmental issues loom; clean, free, solar energy rises steadily toward the top of the heap. Solar power is here to stay.