Several decades ago, solar energy was viewed as an over-priced fad that originated from environmental concerns which arose in the early 1960's. Today, it is being viewed as a dire necessity if there is any hope of improving the environment. It's no secret that the global environment has been abused and is in trouble due to the continual use of non-renewable fossil fuels used in the production of energy and power.
As a result, it has become incredibly important to understand the importance and relevance of using solar energy where the preservation of the global environment is concerned. In order to shed more light on the importance of utilizing solar energy, the following is a list of numerous solar energy facts that you may or may not be aware of.
General Solar Facts
Solar is environmentally-friendly
Electricity production for the heating of water and production of electricity are just two ways in which you benefit from using solar energy. Drying your clothes in direct sunlight is also another benefit of using the sun's heat and light.
Solar can also enable you to heat up your swimming pool as well as power up small appliances or a vehicle.
You can cook your food with solar energy.
The worldwide demand for solar continues to grow on a daily basis and is currently bigger than the supply.
Solar Energy Facts Regarding Usage
Solar energy is typically measured in what is called "kilowatt hours" (kWh) or 1,000 watts, which equates to the amount of electricity necessary to light up a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours.
Roughly 30% of the solar consumption today is used for heating water.
Facts about Systems Used for Generating Solar Energy
Solar systems for the home consist of 6 components - a battery, a charge controller, an inverter, a battery, solar panels, a support structure, and wiring.
Solar for the home that are rated as a 1-kilowatt system usually take about 1 to 2 days for installation and typically cost ,000 or even more depending on the size of the home that is being powered by the system.
A 1-kilowatt system requires a space of roughly 100 square feet for installation purposes and typically consists of 10 to 12 solar cells.
If your home receives an average of 5½ hours of direct sunlight per day, a 1-kilowatt solar energy system can generate about 1,600 kilowatt hours annually. That figure drops to less than half the output if you live in a climate prone to cloudy days.
A 1-kilowatt system eliminates the burning of approximately 170 pounds of coal, 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, and saves up to 105 gallons of water consumption monthly.
Most of the solar systems on the market today feature a 5-year warranty although the life of solar panels has been estimated at up to 30 years.
Adding a battery back-up to your solar system ensures that you have electricity when the sun isn't shining.
