Using Solar Power

Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used. Solar power technologies provide electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics. Once converted its uses are only limited by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors, with electrical or mechanical equipment, to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. When you think of solar power you think of heating and light for your home. That is one of the many things that we use solar power for. Solar power is everywhere and it is growing everyday. There are different products that are made using solar power. I will list these products and their uses and also how solar power affects them. Solar power is using the sun's natural heat to produce electricity, heat, and more. When you use solar power you are using the natural resources found that cannot harm the earth in ways that other methods can. There are more products that use solar power than what we realize. A lot of the electronics made will use some type of solar power in order to function completely and accurately. For example, calculators are solar power products. These calculators may or may not have on and off switches. Some rely on the solar panel completely in order to stay or turn off. Solar power calculators need a certain amount of light inside the solar panel in order to turn the calculator on and perform what you want it to do; add, subtract, divide, multiply and more. The solar panel in a calculator is not as big as the one that you would to power your home. The size needed for a calculator is adjusted before installation to provide the right amount of what it needs. Solar power products can be found in travel products, outdoor recreation, safety products, emergency products and more. Radios have are produced with a solar panel inside that transforms the sunlight into energy allowing you to listen to your radio while you are outside.