Solar Power and Its Many Uses

In the times that we live, everyone is trying to save money on their energy bills and many people are also trying to live a greener lifestyle. There are many forms of greener energy. One of these is solar power.

What is solar power? It is creating electricity through the use of sunlight. There are two different ways that this electricity is converted. These are by photovoltaic energy, when the power from the sun is changed directly, and through the use of concentrated solar energy which uses mirrors to boil water, which in turn provides the power. This power can run anything from a calculator to a home whose owner's want to be off the power grid. Unfortunately, it is very expensive to install solar plants, so personal solar plants are not very common.

There are two notable companies that have attempted in recent years to become a little greener by using solar panels for power. One of these is the technology giant Apple, which has had a bad reputation as not being environmentally friendly. This changed recently, when the late Steve Jobs, the company's founder, decided to begin making the change from coal power to solar power. Now there is a spot of broken ground next to the operations center for the placement of solar panels. Another company that has made strides for a greener environment is the giant retailer, Wal-mart. As recently as 2007, Wal-mart had partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to push for the use of photovoltaic technology. It is still in the developmental stage.

Besides using these technologies to power companies and homes, there are other uses for solar power as well. These range from powering wheelchairs and other mobility devices, solar powered e-readers and computer keyboards, powering buildings, such as the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge, and a super skin, just to name a few.

What does the future hold for solar energy? The future of solar energy has mixed reviews, but for the most part, the reviews are positive. By 2050, It is expected to provide near 25% of the world's power, according to the International Energy Agency. Over 10% of this power is projected to come from home and offices and another percentage will be coming from central power stations that feed electricity to areas of more dense populations.

If you are striving to live a greener lifestyle, you may definitely want to consider putting solar panels on your home. It will be more expensive in the short run, but will make your home more energy efficient and will save you money for the life of your home.