History of Solar Energy

You may think of solar use as new to our century. However, the ancient Greek and Romans used passive solar in their homes. Wood to burn was often scarce, so they learned to face their houses south to catch the sun during the winter. They covered the south facing openings with mica or glass.

By the 6th Century A.D., houses with sunrooms on public buildings and houses became so popular, that a law had to be created to make sure that no other buildings blocked the sun from an existing structure that used solar energy for heat. Here in North America, the Anasazi people faced their cliff dwelling structures south to catch the sun for heating purposes as well. The Pueblo's are descendants of these people.

During the 1800's solar use again came into limited use. August Mouchout, an inventor, felt that fossil fuels would eventually run out. He built a solar powered steam engine. the high cost of building the unit, plus the falling price of English coal brought an end to his dream. The thought of using solar energy as a source of power still interested individuals and scientist throughout the 19th century. Solar hot water heaters came into existence in 1891 when Clarence Kemp patented the first solar hot water heater system. It became a practical way to heat water, especially in Florida and California. by 1900, almost 1600 homes had been built with solar hot water heat in California. The unit worked well during the day, but did not keep water hot over night. It wasn't until William Bailey created and patented another water heater system in 1909 that water would stay warm over night. That system had a separate storing system for the hot water. This kept the water hot over night. He called his system the "Day and Night Solar Hot Water Heater." Through the years, improvements have been made on solar hot water heaters, but they work similar to what was created in the early 1900's.

Since then, other means of using solar energy have been created. For instance, in the 1950's Bell Labs discovered that silicon could be used as a semi-conductor of electricity. This discovery paved the way for solar cells and solar panels. Today, solar power is used to supply electric to homes and businesses. Solar panels and even shingles using this technology now exist. We have appliances that use solar cells to power them. We have outdoor lighting that works very well off of this technology. It can be used as illumination or as a means to add beauty to a home at night, or both. There is an array of solar powered products that no longer need to be plugged into a wall socket. Just the sun as a source of power.

Solar powered products and ideas are becoming very popular and a good investment because after the initial cost, there is minimal upkeep. They have become a reasonable alternative to fossil fuels. Shouldn't all of us use this natural resource? Why not join the green revolution. Help save our earth.

You may think of solar use as new to our century. However, the ancient Greek and Romans used passive solar in their homes. Wood to burn was often scarce, so they learned to face their houses south to catch the sun during the winter. They covered the south facing openings with mica or glass.

By the 6th Century A.D., houses with sunrooms on public buildings and houses became so popular, that a law had to be created to make sure that no other buildings blocked the sun from an existing structure that used solar energy for heat. Here in North America, the Anasazi people faced their cliff dwelling structures south to catch the sun for heating purposes as well. The Pueblo's are descendants of these people.

During the 1800's solar use again came into limited use. August Mouchout, an inventor, felt that fossil fuels would eventually run out. He built a solar powered steam engine. The high cost of building the unit, plus the falling price of English coal brought an end to his dream. The thought of using solar energy as a source of power still interested individuals and scientist throughout the 19th century. Solar hot water heaters came into existence in 1891 when Clarence Kemp patented the first solar hot water heater system. It became a practical way to heat water, especially in Florida and California. by 1900, almost 1600 homes had been built with solar hot water heat in California. The unit worked well during the day, but did not keep water hot over night. It wasn't until William Bailey created and patented another water heater system in 1909 that water would stay warm over night. That system had a separate storing system for the hot water. This kept the water hot over night. He called his system the "Day and Night Solar Hot Water Heater." Through the years, improvements have been made on solar hot water heaters, but they work similar to what was created in the early 1900's.

Since then, other means of using solar energy have been created. For instance, in the 1950's Bell Labs discovered that silicon could be used as a semi-conductor of electricity. This discovery paved the way for solar cells and solar panels. Today, solar power is used to supply electric to homes and businesses. Solar panels and even shingles using this technology now exist. We have appliances that use solar cells to power them. We have outdoor lighting that works very well off of this technology. It can be used as illumination or as a means to add beauty to a home at night, or both. We have watches that will operate for months of off one charge from light. From lights to radios, from watches to solar hot water heat, this alternative source of power is becoming popular throughout the world. There is an array of solar powered products that no longer need to be plugged into a wall socket. Just the sun as a source of power.

Solar powered products and ideas are becoming very popular and a good investment because, after the initial cost, there is minimal upkeep. They have become a reasonable alternative to fossil fuels. Shouldn't all of us use this natural resource? Why not join the green revolution. Help save our earth.

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John Hingle has become interested in Solar energy as a reliable alternative to fossil fuels. This technology is well suited for use as a source of power for the home, office, or business. It can be used to power products that we use every day without the need to "plug them in" or use a battery that needs replaced regularly. He is the owner of the website solarpoweredideas.com

Global warming is a natural phenomenon.

Actually, the green house effect is a natural occurring phenomenon that is vital to the earth. As energy from the sun reaches the earth, about 70 percent is used to heat the air, land and sea. Without this mechanism the average temperature would be approximately zero degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. The absorbed heat is eventually released as infrared radiation back into outer space, keeping the earth from heating up to much. Without this mechanism life as we know it would not be possible on earth. So what is the problem?
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution some 250 years ago, we have been using fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, releasing pollutants such as methane gas, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide. As the concentration grows in the atmosphere, not enough of the extra heat is radiated into space. As this trapped pollution within our atmosphere grows, the result is a rise in the earths’ temperature. The time magazine pointed out that the world’s carbon dioxide output “approached a staggering 32 billion tons “ in 2006 alone. This has kept earth’s excess heat from escaping back into outer space, which in turn, helps to heat up our atmosphere. This is considered one of the major factors for global warming.
There is evidence of the earth warming in many places. In 2007 the Northwest Passage was open all winter for the first time in recorded history. The currents and the length of time ice covered the Chukchi Sea has changed. It used to freeze over in October, now it freezes over in December. The local inhabitants are finding it harder to travel across the frozen sea to land for Caribou and moose hunting as a result. This is also one of the two main areas that Polar bears are found. Their natural habitat is in danger as well. Many of the people who live on Tuvalu, a group of islands that are only 13 feet above sea level, had to leave because the sea level has risen. Global warming is a reality for these people. A change is needed from what we are now using as a fuel source.
Part of the solution is to use alternative energy sources. Wind power, solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, and geothermal power are technologies that may help us turn the tide on fossil fuels. Companies are already implementing the use of these alternative fuel sources. Solar energy technology has taken a front row seat in this area. Solar thermal has been used for heating domestic hot water and heating homes since the late 1800’s. It is now being used in turbines to create electricity. About 100,000 homes are currently receiving electric in this manner. Solar thermal can store energy to generate power at night as well. Several companies have announced plans to provide power for 10 times that many homes in the near future. Solar photovoltaic’s has no moving parts. It can be applied as a shingle on a roof, with the ability to create power on a cloudy day, or as a solar panel. New Jersey and California have programs in place to encourage communities to use solar panels on homes, businesses. Other states also have incentive programs to encourage the use of solar and wind power.
Shouldn’t our goal be to help nature restore the earth’s natural cycle? We can do this by using resources that do not upset the balance of nature. By using these natural resources we can help nature restore itself. This technology is now being used for home products as well. It is being used in watches, radios, calculators, solar panels to charge PDA’S, cell phones, GPS devices. Solar panels can be used at home, while camping and emergency use. The purpose of solar powered ideas is get individuals started using solar products. All of us can take advantage of these resources. In this way we can have a responsible role in saving our planet earth. After all, “there is no place like home.”

Can solar energy be practical for every day living?

Recently, we bought $45.00 worth of batteries for use in flashlights. It occurred to me that we were spending quite a bit of money to keep flashlights in fresh batteries for basically emergency use. My mind kept asking me, was it worth it? Especially since the next time I needed a flashlight, the batteries were dead. Since then I have started stocking up on flashlights that do not need batteries. Shake flashlights, ones that use a little magnet and store a charge crank flashlights, a flashlight that uses crank power to create a charge that will last up to 20 minutes. It occurred to me that it was actually cheaper to buy a flashlight of that type rather than a conventional one that needed batteries. I never needed to buy batteries again. I would always have a flashlight at my disposal that would actually work when I needed it. I would never have to worry if my flashlight would work in an emergency situation. Not only are there flashlights using such technology, but camping lights used this type of technology as well. Some use solar and crank type system to ensure continuous light. It is amazing to think that our technology has taken us so far.

Could it be that such technology was being used for other fundamental products? It was worth some research. To my surprise, we have solar powered watches that will operate for months off a single full charge. It is not necessary for them to be in full sunlight to be charging, artificial light will work also. We have radios that will charge using solar or crank power. Again, why am I buying batteries? Solar cells can be used to charge radios, cell phones, out door weather stations, radar detectors, even a car battery when necessary. Solar cell packs are now powerful enough to use as a charging unit for camping sites. Solar power is being used as a source of electric power to maintain a home environment. Solar cells are now made in to roll up or fold up for easy transportation. Solar cells are now being used on back packs. They are charging while a person is carrying items from place to place. How convenient it is to have our very own portable power Station to go.

Solar lighting fixtures have become very popular. It is so much easier to install solar lighting fixtures as opposed to conventional lighting fixtures. With conventional lighting fixtures, wiring must be installed from an electric source, usually the main electrical box, to the electrical fixture. An electrician is then needed to install the unit. On the other hand, a solar unit only needs to be installed on a pole or stake. In the case of a security light, the installation maybe on the side of a building, or a wall. As long as the solar cell is facing the sun and is not in the shade, the light will work fine. The setup time is minimal and the need to call in a professional to install the light is usually not necessary. Solar cells have proven to be reliable, lasting as long as 20 years.

Solar energy is now being used to heat hot water for homes. It is working so well, that some countries, such as Japan encourages all new buildings to have this system included in the design. Heating domestic hot water has becoming popular in California and Florida as well. Solar hot water is also being used as an alternative source of heat for homes cutting, down on the amount of fossil fuels needed to heat the home. Solar hot air panels are also in use as an alternative system for home heating. The units are installed in the south facing wall of a home. They are larger than a conventional window and usually incorporate a fan run off of solar energy. As the unit reaches a certain temperature, the fan circulates air from inside the home through the unit, heating the air as it passes through. It is then circulated back into the house. So the answer to my question is yes. Technology is being used for other products successfully. We have indeed begun to use alternative sources of energy in our daily lives. As we do so, we will be helping our environment. We are saving on fossil fuels and are cutting our living expenses as well.