What is Solar Power?

Solar. It's the new buzzword of the 21st century. It's been touted as the final frontier in green energy. So what is solar power and how can you harvest it for your own benefit?

Solar power involves the conversion and processing of sunlight into electricity. The first commercial solar plants were built in the 1980s, in--where else--sunny California. There's still some concern over whether our current system for harvesting and converting energy is efficient enough to provide enough power for all of our energy needs, but solar tech has evolved so rapidly over the last few years that it may be even more of a reality in the near future.

Solar is so attractive as a power source because it's clean (as in, doesn't emit carbon radiation), it's a free, inexhaustible source of energy, and it can be used for low- and high- power purposes. So how can you implement it in your home?

Solar Panels

If you want to go for the big guns, expect to spend anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 on panels in your home. Installing panels doesn't mean taking your whole home off the grid, though -- you'll still be supplemented by traditional electricity when it's too cloudy or rainy outside to generate enough power from the sun. If you're overproducing solar energy, then you'll actually get a credit from the electricity company!

Solar Hot Water

If the panels are too expensive, then consider getting a solar heating system for your home. "Active" solar water heaters have circulating pumps and controls. According to the US Department of Energy, there are two kinds of "active" heaters: direct and indirect systems. Direct systems "circulate household water through the collectors and into the home." Indirect systems "circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger."

Passive systems are less expensive and usually less efficient, too. Take a look here for some of the differences between passive systems.

Appliances

There are a number of solar appliances that you can use to lessen mounting electricity costs in your home. Here are a few:

Solar Radios. Small solar radios can be extremely helpful in an emergency. Most popular models have about a 20-hour battery life.

Solar Ovens. Solar ovens can be used for anything that you'd cook in a gas or electric oven; it also takes as much time to cook food as a conventional oven would. You can purchase one for less than $300 at many online retailers in the United States.

That's it for our special solar feature. Check back for more!