Solar energy has been used by man since the beginning of time to cook or dry food, warm dwellings and heat water among others. Today solar energy is used for heating structures, lighting buildings, heating water, solar powered electricity and a few brave souls try to power their vehicles this way.
Biannually there is a solar-powered car challenge, where mostly universities and enterprises compete. This has advanced the technology for solar cars, in 2007 the winner had an average speed of almost 57 miles and hour. Not bad over an almost 1900 mile course. Solar costs are often rebated by governments on a local or federal level to entice people to convert to solar energy. Up to 30% of total installation of solar hot water or solar electrically can be deducted from taxes as credits.
Biomass is made of anything that burns; garbage, paper products, dead trees, yard clippings, saw dust. California alone produces 60 million tons of biomass each year which if converted could run the electricity for two million homes! That's worth thinking about. The biomass is collected and burned in giant furnaces which are used to head water in a boiler the energy from the steam turns generators and turbines. This is a great way to reduce land fill and make energy which is clean and uses unwanted materials.
Wind energy is clean and efficient as long as the wind blows. A 10-kw wind turbine generates enough power to run an average household and a 250-kw turbine can run an elementary school for a year. Clean and efficient but almost always needs a back up plan in the event of a calm. Unfortantely these turbines or "wind mills" are very expensive to purchase.
Water produces electricity by quickly flowing or falling, the water rushes through a power plant and with the use of turbines and generators the energy in the water is used to produce electricity. Clean and efficient with moderate to high amounts of useful energy compared with low operating and maintenance cost. All kinds of clean natural resources are available but with our constant need for more and more energy we have to use explore all available alternatives.
About the Author
GLOBAL SOLAR CENTER (http://www.GLOBALSOLARCENTER.COM) is designed to make the transition to solar cost power as easy and transparent as possible. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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