The question "Should we use solar energy?" is one that should maybe be rephrased so that we should probably be asking, "What will happen if we don't use solar energy?".
Two of the most pressing issues facing us as a race and this beautiful planet we are privileged to call home are the level of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere and global warming being caused by, amongst other things, this self-same level of carbon emissions.
Where Do We Stand?
We need to take steps - and take them very soon and very quickly - to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being released into the air and the resultant global warming, which is not only threatening our environment but also many of the amazing animal species with which we're privileged to share this planet. If the ice at the Arctic continues to melt as it has been doing, polar bears' normal habitat will gradually disappear, threatening this beautiful creature with extinction. And that's just one example of the destruction our poor energy habits are wreaking.
What Should We Do?
Solar energy is beamed down to us in great abundance from the sun in the form of light and heat. And the great thing is that this energy is free and shows no sign of drying up. In fact, the Earth receives about six thousand times more energy in just one hour than our whole planet uses in an entire year! Now that's a whole heap of energy.
So, imagine what would happen if we were to harness just a small amount of that energy bombarding us every day? And not just every day, but every hour of every day. We could get all the electricity we need and power practically everything using solar energy, meaning we'd be reducing our carbon emissions to practically zero, since the technology we use to convert sunlight into electricity is clean, renewable energy that has no mechanical parts and produces no emissions of any kind.
It All Starts At Home
If everybody makes a conscious effort and starts to take advantage of solar energy in their homes, we'll be off to a great start. Just open your drapes as soon as you get up, and feel the heat from the sun start to warm up your home. Yes, it's as simple as that. You're actually harnessing solar energy through a technique known as passive solar heating.
But, you can take this further by storing the heat for later use by using thermal mass. So, what is thermal mass?, you ask. It's material that naturally stores heat and releases it for later use. Such materials as concrete, adobe and water work great as thermal mass. So, if you have a concrete floor in front of your windows, that will store heat, and, as the room temperature cools in the evening, the stored heat will be gradually released through natural convection to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.
The more thermal mass you have, the more heat will be retained. You can easily add more thermal mass by filling up empty plastic milk cartons with water and leaving them in front of your windows. They may not look that great but they'll do a great job of absorbing and releasing heat.
So, the answer to the question "Should we use solar energy?" is a most emphatic "Yes"! And the sooner, the better, so get started today - open your drapes and make the most of passive solar heating.
Two of the most pressing issues facing us as a race and this beautiful planet we are privileged to call home are the level of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere and global warming being caused by, amongst other things, this self-same level of carbon emissions.
Where Do We Stand?
We need to take steps - and take them very soon and very quickly - to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being released into the air and the resultant global warming, which is not only threatening our environment but also many of the amazing animal species with which we're privileged to share this planet. If the ice at the Arctic continues to melt as it has been doing, polar bears' normal habitat will gradually disappear, threatening this beautiful creature with extinction. And that's just one example of the destruction our poor energy habits are wreaking.
What Should We Do?
Solar energy is beamed down to us in great abundance from the sun in the form of light and heat. And the great thing is that this energy is free and shows no sign of drying up. In fact, the Earth receives about six thousand times more energy in just one hour than our whole planet uses in an entire year! Now that's a whole heap of energy.
So, imagine what would happen if we were to harness just a small amount of that energy bombarding us every day? And not just every day, but every hour of every day. We could get all the electricity we need and power practically everything using solar energy, meaning we'd be reducing our carbon emissions to practically zero, since the technology we use to convert sunlight into electricity is clean, renewable energy that has no mechanical parts and produces no emissions of any kind.
It All Starts At Home
If everybody makes a conscious effort and starts to take advantage of solar energy in their homes, we'll be off to a great start. Just open your drapes as soon as you get up, and feel the heat from the sun start to warm up your home. Yes, it's as simple as that. You're actually harnessing solar energy through a technique known as passive solar heating.
But, you can take this further by storing the heat for later use by using thermal mass. So, what is thermal mass?, you ask. It's material that naturally stores heat and releases it for later use. Such materials as concrete, adobe and water work great as thermal mass. So, if you have a concrete floor in front of your windows, that will store heat, and, as the room temperature cools in the evening, the stored heat will be gradually released through natural convection to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.
The more thermal mass you have, the more heat will be retained. You can easily add more thermal mass by filling up empty plastic milk cartons with water and leaving them in front of your windows. They may not look that great but they'll do a great job of absorbing and releasing heat.
So, the answer to the question "Should we use solar energy?" is a most emphatic "Yes"! And the sooner, the better, so get started today - open your drapes and make the most of passive solar heating.
To find out more about using solar energy and to grab a copy of our exciting FREE report, click on the only solar power resource you'll need. Ray Boreham suggests you'll find a wealth of information and tips on solar and renewable energy at http://www.all-you-need-is-solar.com/.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét