Solar power is radiant energy that is produced by the sun. Every single day the sun radiates, or sends out, an incredible volume of energy. The sun radiates more energy in one second than people have used since the beginning of time!

The energy of the Sun originates from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.

The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to form helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.

During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.

It takes millions of years for the energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and then somewhat over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to earth. The solar energy travels to the earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the speed of light.

Simply a small percentage of the energy radiated from the sun into space strikes the earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous. Every day enough energy strikes the usa to supply the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years!

Where does all this energy go?

About 15 percent of the sun’s energy which hits the planet earth is reflected back into space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted into the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar power is absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be employed to supply our energy needs.

Who invented solar energy ?

People have harnessed solar technology for hundreds of years. As early as the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they would cause wood to catch fire. Over a century ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to create steam to drive a steam engine. At first of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar power in earnest. One important development was obviously a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, an american astrophysicist, in 1936.

The solar water heater became popular at this time in Florida, California, and the Southwest. The industry started in the early 1920s and was in full swing prior to World War II. This growth lasted before mid-1950s when low-cost gas became the primary fuel for heating American homes.

The public and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar energy prior to the oil shortages of the1970s. Today, people use solar energy to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity.

How we use solar energy today ?

Solar power is employed in a variety of ways, of course. There are 2 simple types of solar energy:

* Solar thermal energy collects the sun’s warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.

* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun’s radiation to usable electricity.

Listed below are the five most practical and popular techniques solar power is used:

1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We have seen these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden tools. Portable units may be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems can be used traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems through a solar collector is a very practical method to heat water for your pool or spa.

3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by the sun’s rays and the heat is then transferred to water in a warm water tank. This technique of collecting the sun’s energy is a lot more practical now than ever. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in 3 years or less.

4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. In numerous parts on the planet, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other forms of power. In the USA, new incentive programs make this form of solar energy ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical method of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. For those who have enough sun power at your site, you may be able to go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar power system with wind power or other types of renewable power to stay ‘off the grid.’

How do Photovoltaic panels work ?

Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to create photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electrical power. The power created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the energy into basic voltage and AC electrical power.

Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a particular share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.

The energy unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar cells also have one or more electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.

Do you know the benefits and drawbacks of solar power ?

Solar Pro Arguments

- Heating our homes with oil or gas or using electricity from power plants running with fossil fuels is a reason for climatic change and climate disruption. Solar energy, on the other hand, is clean and environmentally-friendly.

- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment can be recovered within a relatively small amount of time.

- Solar hot-water heaters can work in nearly every climate, even just in very cold ones. You just need to choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.

- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and the warranties large.
- Financial incentives (USA, Canada, European states…) can help to eliminate the price of the first investment in solar technologies. The U.S. government, as an example, offers tax credits for solar systems certified by by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation), which amount to 30 percent of the investment (2009-2016 period).

Solar Cons Arguments

- The first investment in Solar Hot water heaters or in Solar PV Electric Systems is greater than that required by conventional electric and gas heaters systems.

- The payback period of solar PV-electric systems is high, as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (only the solar hot water heating payback is short or relatively short).

- Solar water heating do not support a direct in conjunction with radiators (including baseboard ones).

- Some air cooling (solar space heating and the solar cooling systems) are costly, and rather untested technologies: solar air-con isn’t, till now, a really economical option.

- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather influenced by sunlight resources. It’s in colder climates, where heating or electricity needs are higher, that the efficiency is smaller.

About me – Barbara Young writes on RV solar charger in her personal hobby blog 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to eliminate CO2 emissions and energy dependency.

City and county officials as well as residents and business owners who call Greensburg home are creating a national model for environmentally conscious living.

Daniel Wallach, has been a driving force in helping the community adapt to this new way of life. He founded the nonprofit organization Greensburg GreenTown (http://www.greensburggreentown.org/) which provides resources and education for sustainable rebuilding.

City leaders are using wind and solar technologies to harness power and geothermal heat. To conserve energy they are building with solid concrete, their focus is on using more natural light and they are installing better insulation and state-of-the-art windows.

Greensburg GreenTown is building a series of “Eco-Homes”. Twelve green houses with energy-efficient features. Wallach wants to turn the Eco-Homes into “living laboratories” to help educate people about energy-efficient construction.

The first home being built is slated to be completed this summer. It’s a silo-shaped building and is expected to be approximately 70% more energy efficient than the average house. The Silo Eco-Home features ground-source heating and cooling, solar hot water and a vegetable garden on its roof to top it off!

The town’s new state-of-the-art John Deere dealership uses recycled oil to heat and cool its floors, wind turbines to create electrical power and lights that require no electricity.

Wallach says that the community itself will have a community-owned wind farm that will power the town’s general power needs.

“This town is definitely an example for the rest of the world. We have people from around the world coming out of their way to come to Greensburg.” “So it’s a great place for people to come and have an emerging experience with what a town of the future looks like and feels like.”

Severe changes being brought on by global warming are producing drastic occurrences such as sinking, melting and might even be the cause of entire places disappearing from the face of the earth.

Global warming combined with tourist wear and tear are breaking down and causing some major problems for some of the world’s most popular attractions.

The Maldive Islands are located in the Indian Ocean and are approximately three feet above sea level. More than 600,000 people visit the Maldive Islands every year which accounts for 30% of the country’s gross domestic product. Scientists fear that it is possible that this chain of islands could be completely submerged by 2050. A buffer was constructed in the 1990s but it has not solved the problem. The government is considering relocating all 386,000 of its residents to Sri Lanka, Australia or India thus bringing an end to the Maldives’ tourism industry.

The Great Barrier Reef located in Australia is 135,000 square miles of live coral off Australia’s northeast coast which are shrinking rapidly due to heavy tourist traffic, ocean acidification and rising water temperatures. In attempts to slow erosion, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has imposed limits on ship passage and has blocked off some areas surrounding the reef to oversize yachts and cruise lines. These measures have had little impact. The Australian Institute of Marine Science released a study in January stating that the coral’s natural growth has decreased by 14% since 1990. Experts say that by 2050, water temperatures will rise by 1.5°C and the reef will have lost about 95% of its living coral.

Mount Kilimanjaro located in Tanzania is one of the world’s most popular climbs and every year approximately 15,000 climbers show up to make their attempt. The glaciers that cover this stately landmark are receding rapidly. 84% of their ice has been lost since 1912 and today covers less than one square mile. Scientists believe the glaciers could be gone completely by 2020 directly effecting Tanzania’s main tourist draw.

The Switzerland Alps attract more than 8 million people to travel to Switzerland every year mainly to ski the country’s world-famous Alps. Because of global warming, it is estimated that about 40% of the mountain range’s pristine skiing areas will disappear by 2100. Low-altitude destinations are especially susceptible because of their warmer temperatures, and owners have already had to turn to artificial snow to get through the season. Making a preemptive move in an attempt to deflect future losses the $125 million InterContinental Davos which is scheduled to open in 2011 is adding attractions that don’t require snow, such as indoor sports facilities and spas.

The Galápagos Islands located in Ecuador has experienced an increase in the number of visitors to the archipelago (where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution) from 40,000 to 180,000 since 1990. Air traffic has risen by 193% since 2001. Those trends are likely to accelerate this year, the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth. Scientists consider the Galápagos to be the world’s purest biodiversity environment which makes them especially concerned about the way the traffic surge will affect the islands’ life forms. They consider 39% of animal species, 50% of marine species, and 59% of plant species to be threatened. In an effort to help control the problem, Ecuador is considering setting a yearly tourist cap and imposing an entry fee of up to $300.

By coming up with creative environmental ideas as solutions to current critical environmental problems companies looking to improve their environmental performance can increase their employees’ willingness to be more environmentally innovative.

For instance, by simply exhibiting supportive behaviors managers can significantly help increase the likelihood that employees will attempt to develop and expand their environmental ingenuity.

Companies with sustainable development policies with stated environmental practices may help encourage an employees’ willingness to eco-innovate.  They can then influence managers to adopt behaviors that employees perceive to be supportive of environmental actions.  By doing so this will specify which behaviors and policies are most effective at supporting environmental innovations.

Companies have considerable discretion to explore different market strategies to deal with global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Managers can choose between a greater emphasis on improvements in their business activities through innovation or by employing compensatory approaches such as emissions trading.  The overall goal of an emissions trading plan is to reduce emissions which helps to achieve pollution reduction at the lowest possible cost to society.  They can choose to act by themselves or work with other companies, NGOs, or (local) governments.

Having an eco-friendly approach to business can actually help achieve a number of cost-saving and revenue-generating benefits.   Companies need to find ways to strike a balance between the need for bottom-line success and doing the right thing for the environment.

According to Kevin Doyle of The Green Economy, green businesses are currently growing at an average of 5% per annum.

Going green and adopting sustainable workplace practices has shown to lead to an increase in customer confidence, improved employee morale and promotes a stronger public image for the company all of which help lead the way to financial savings for the business.

Environmental Practice at Work Ltd directly support people at work who want to co-operate in promoting work practices that improve environmental performance

http://energy.environmental-expert.com

Companies can choose between a greater emphasis on improvements in their business activities through innovation or by employing compensatory approaches such as emissions trading.  The overall goal of an emissions trading plan is to reduce emissions which helps to achieve pollution reduction at the lowest possible cost to society.  They can choose to act by themselves or work with other companies, NGOs, or (local) governments.

If possible, some companies can take their initiatives a step further by integrating measures using renewable energy.  Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are all naturally replenished.  Some companies are using renewable energy technologies ranging from solar power, wind power and hydroelecticity to biomass and biofuels for transportation.

All levels of management and employees must be involved.

Companies with sustainable development policies with stated environmental practices may help encourage an employees’ willingness to eco-innovate.  They can then influence managers to adopt behaviors that employees perceive to be supportive of environmental actions.  By doing so this will specify which behaviors and policies are most effective at supporting environmental innovations.

Make sure everyone is committed to carrying out even the simplest of tasks such as properly recycling paper and plastic.  Reducing their water usage and using more environmentally preferable materials, substances or organic products.  Shutting off equipment and lights or having motion-activated sensors installed (lighting accounts for 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings).

Changes of attitudes and behaviors in the work place are becoming more prominent.  There is more recycling being done, less waste being produced, carbon emissions are being reduced, offices are turning down heating and switching off air-conditioning all in an effort to conserve the environment and rebalance the ecosystem.

A common green environmentally friendly choice businesses are making is to use only energy-efficient products that have been awarded The Energy Star or other recognizable energy-efficiency award.   Following a ‘green guide’ and tips on how best to use and configure the machines for minimal waste of energy and paper.

Using these management features are important for saving energy and avoiding waste, and are an easy way to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through unnecessary use of electricity.  Energy efficient Energy Star compliant photocopiers provide a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of office photocopiers. Such machines come standard with an “energy saving” mode to automatically or manually assume a low power state.  This feature alone can reduce the energy needed in periods of low activity by over 60%.

Is the current recession and decreased consumer spending causing retailers and marketers to change their environmentally correct efforts?

In 2007 the Environmental Leader reported that two-thirds of chief financial officers at leading U.S. retailers said their company was actively involved with “green” or environmentally friendly practices.  Forty-four percent of those also indicated that they had increased their investments in these types of practices throughout the previous two years.

Among those retailers involved with green practices, 34 percent exclusively pursued internal activities by environmentally modifying operations and structures while nine percent remained focused solely on external practices such as marketing and selling green products.  Fifty-seven percent of those retailers engaged in a combination of both external and internal green practices.

The benefits of implementing green initiatives have widespread effects. Two-thirds of CFOs cited improved brand image among customers and employees as the greatest motivator for their company to pursue environmentally friendly practices.  54 percent cited “image among consumers” and 13 percent cited “image among shareholders”. 15 percent of the CFO’s noted tax breaks or tax incentives as the greatest “green” motivator followed by 10 percent citing city/state or zoning regulations.

According to a study by BDO Seidman, LLP among the top 100 largest retailers, eighty-three percent are involved in green practices and a majority of those (62 percent) have increased their green investments during the past two years.

Resources wasted equals profits lost.  Where there are inefficiencies in business operations there is room for improvement.
Energy prices and atmospheric temperatures are rising which in turn is drawing attention to energy efficiency as a smart environmental and business practice.  Reducing energy consumption will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as operating, manufacturing and consumption costs.

Energy management can have a greater impact on emission reduction if companies choose to make investments by purchasing alternative energy.

According to Dan Kubala, vice president of marketing for Austin, Tex.-based Site Controls, nearly all retailers can boost their bottom line almost immediately by reducing energy costs by implementing energy management systems.  Noting that the level of capital investment is relatively low and payback for the best systems occurs rather quickly (within 18 to 24 months).

Consumers are becoming more and more pro sustainability and are making purchases with this in mind.  Kubala also reports that forty-six percent of consumers say they would shop at a retailer more if it was environmentally friendly, while 47 percent say they would pay more for environmentally friendly services, products or brands.

This greenhouse effect forms a shield that allows the sun’s radiant heat energy into our atmosphere and moves excess heat concentrations out of our atmosphere.  When gas concentrations in this shield are increased, excess gases become trapped inside our atmosphere causing increased global temperatures.

Common greenhouse gases found in the Earth’s atmosphere include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons.

Congressional sources told The Associated Press that the EPA will announce its proposed finding Friday April 17th and begin a comment period before issuing a final ruling.  This is the first step toward regulating pollution linked to climate change.

The action was prompted by a Supreme Court ruling two years ago that said greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act and must be regulated if found to be a human health danger.