Go Greener Tips

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there is nothing new about solar technology.

“It probably started sometime in the 7th Century B.C. when individuals learned find out how to use glass and daylight to mild a fire. But today’s refined solar technologies include everything from solar-powered lights and buildings to solar-powered vehicles.”

The Department of Energy (DOE) has permitted $62 million to fund concentrating solar energy research and development. Concentrating solar energy technology is akin to the ancient practice of capturing the sun’s energy as heat to produce power. In simplest terms it is much like utilizing a magnifying glass to start a fire.

Some plants that produce concentrated solar power include places to retailer the power so it can be used at a later time, corresponding to at night.

The DOE says that the American southwest is in a singular position to harness this energy.

According to the Department of energy, here is what we should see in the future in regards to solar technologies:

“All our buildings will feature energy-efficient design, construction, and materials in addition to renewable vitality technologies. In effect, each building will both conserve power and produce its own supply; to be considered one of a new technology of cost-effective “zero-energy buildings” that don’t have any net annual need for nonrenewable energy.”

In addition, analysis and development into photovoltaic expertise (where solar is transformed into energy) will improve.

“In a solar future, your mode of transportation – and even the clothes you put on – might produce clean, protected electric power.”

At the University of Colorado, college students built a model home that exhibits how we will live in energy-efficient photo voltaic homes in the future. They had been participating in the Solar Decathlon, a competition sponsored by the DOE where faculties designed and built 500 to 800 sq. foot properties that have been solar dependent.

In California, Sunline a transit company, added state-of-the-art hydrogen gasoline cell buses to its fleet, stated the DOE.

“Hydrogen is produced on the site using solar-powered electrolysis and pure gas reforming. Because fuel cell buses aren’t yet commercially available, demonstration projects help us perceive the technology better and plan for the future,” in line with the DOE.

California additionally boasts the world’s largest solar energy facility. Located close to Kramer Junction, California the solar generating station produces 150 megawatts of power.

“At capacity, this is usually enough power for about 150,000 homes. The facility covers extra than one thousand acres and has a collector surface space of more than one million square meters,” in line with the DOE.

Within about 10 years the price of solar power can be comparable to electricity.

“Concentrating photo voltaic power, or solar thermal electricity, might harness enough of the sun’s energy to provide large-scale, domestically secure, and environmentally friendly electricity, especially within the southwestern United States,” stated the website.

“The enormous solar power potential of the Southwest—comparable in scale to the large hydropower resource of the Northwest—will be realized. A desert space 10 miles by 15 miles may provide 20,000 megawatts of power, and the electricity needs of your complete United States might theoretically be met by a photovoltaic array within an space 100 miles on a side. “

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