A Leap in Solar Power

RYO

In an article entitled “Environment: Problems and Solutions”, Miller (1994) says “Our current dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels is the primary cause of air and water pollution, land disruption, and projected global warming and climate change; and affordable oil will probably be depleted within 40 to 80 years and will need to be replaced by other alternatives” (p. 80). From this article, it is obvious that people will have to use other forms of energy instead of fossil fuels in the future. However, there are a lot of arguments not only environmentalists, but also among geographers and even economists about which alternative energy is the most efficient. Nowadays, they start to realize that using solar energy is more useful than using any other energy, and now most people are becoming curious about using solar energy because of its harmlessness, unlimited capacity, diversity, and cost-efficient.

To gather solar energy, a solar energy system that converts solar energy into electricity is required. In truth, as following article say, solar energy history extends much further back than people might think. Surprisingly, solar energy systems have been outlined by a lot of inventors since 1870s.In an article entitled “Solar Energy History”, the author says “William Adams used mirrors and the sun to power a steam engine during the 1870s. His design is still in use today….In the later 1880s, Charles Tellier installed a solar energy system to heat the water in his house” (2007). As solar systems have become popular, many types of solar energy systems have invented. First, concentrating solar power is known as very useful and popular energy in many countries. In “Concentrating Solar Power Ready To Replace Fossil Fuels, Say Colorado Ratepayers”, the author explains that “This solar power can directly replace the burning of fossil fuels to heat water and produce steam” (2006, para. 2). What’s more, solar thermal hot water systems are one of the most popular and high quality systems so far. According to Herzfeld (2004), “Solar thermal systems, which use sunlight to heat water in rooftop collectors that is then stored in tanks for use throughout the home, are the wave of the future” (para. 2). Although some opponents are still pointing out its disadvantages, most people actually think that solar energy has much more advantages than disadvantages. In addition, many countries’ governments recommend using solar energy, and they support people who try to use solar energy aggressively.

First of all, solar energy is harmless not only for the Earth, but also for people. Solar energy does not pollute water, air, or land. First, water pollution during operation is extremely low because solar systems do not generate any harmful elements such as mercury. Therefore, these substitutes never arise and go into rivers or oceans and cause water pollution. Second, solar energy does not pollute air from its manufacture because sunlight does not contain any harmful elements such as carbon dioxide. On the other hand, when people burn fossil fuels such as coal to convert them into other energy, they generate carbon dioxide. In “Renewable Energy Technology: An Urgent Need, a Hard Sell” Kozloff (1994), say “Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal, are huge contributors to the rising risk of climate change, and they are projected to increase” (para. 2). Thus, using fossil fuels including coal pollutes air, and it might cause acid rain and deforestation. Finally, using solar energy does not disturb land. People usually set up solar systems on the roof of their houses or buildings, so solar systems do not need much space. However, when people construct dams or windmills for getting energy from water or wind, a large space is required. Building these constructions causes land destruction. Comparatively, the possibility of solar energy destroying environment of the Earth is quite low. As a result, if people try to use solar energy as possible as they can instead of other energy, the Earth will escape from some environmental problems such as air pollution, deforestation, and acid rain.

Second, sunlight is unlimited. In Chiang’s article entitled “Recharge! In a Polluted World, Can Nature Provide Cleaner Energy? – Renewable Energy”, she says “The sun is expected to shine for another 4 billion years” (2003, para. 7). In addition, according to Kozloff (1994), “Because sun, wind, and other such energy sources are inexhaustible, they can fuel economic development forever” (para. 3). As these articles state, sunlight is an inexhaustible and renewable energy. Therefore, if people set up solar systems once, they do not need to waste energy any more. In contrast, if people continue to use fossil fuels such as oil and coal, these energy resources will decrease and finally run out. If fossil fuels run out, no one in any country will get any energy. As Solleder (2004) states “Sunlight is an unlimited resource that can help reduce the country’s reliance on foreign fuel supplies” (para. 8). To save fossil fuels, therefore, people should use solar energy. Nonrenewable energy such as fossil fuels will run out someday, but solar energy will never run out in the future.

Third reason to support for solar energy is its diversity. Solar energy has a lot of uses. Then, the most popular use is to heat buildings. To use solar energy to heat buildings, a passive solar heating system is required. In “Environment: Problems and Solutions”, Miller (1994) says “A passive solar heating system captures sunlight within a structure and converts it into low-temperature heat for space heating” (p. 88). Water can also be heated by solar energy by the same method. In addition, solar cars are gradually becoming popular. Nowadays, many car companies are trying to invent high efficient solar cars. In “Car Engines Going Solar”, the author insists that “Solar cells may soon hold the key for cleaner burning and more efficient car engines, lighter-weight satellites, and even moon colonies” (2002, para. 1). Therefore, it is good for use of solar energy not only for cars, but also many things. In the future, solar energy is necessary in society for its diversity.

However, some opponents claim that solar energy is not practical. They criticize that current costs of solar systems are high. However, these people are forgetting something important: most of governments help people using solar energy, and when people look at the life-cycle cost of solar energy, they realize that the cost is much lower than any other energy. In Herzfeld’s article entitled “Sun Power: Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems Save Energy and Money”, he says, “Although the systems are expensive--$1,500 to $4,500, installed--they easily can be rolled into a mortgage. What’s more, state incentives, particularly in the Sun Belt, make it possible to recoup the initial system costs” (2004, para. 10). Furthermore, these days, many countries’ governments follow the United States government, and give a lot of incentives to people who try to use solar systems so that they can cut down their initial costs of solar energy systems. Therefore, people can install solar systems easily if their governments support budgets because even though the construction cost is not cheap, the life-cycle cost of operation is very cheap in terms of unlimited use. In other words, people can recuperate initial costs over time because they do not need to pay electric bill any more. Therefore, as people use solar energy systems for a long time, they will realize how profitable they are.

In conclusion, solar energy is the most appropriate energy for the Earth as well as for humans. If people do not try to use solar energy, and still continue to depend on fossil fuels, environmental destruction will certainly go on, and fossil fuels will run out soon. Not only to stop polluting the Earth, but also to stop running out fossil fuels, each country’s government has to encourage people to use solar energy more. Also, each person should know the variety of the use of solar energy, and use it instead of fossil fuels so that they can save both money and energy. Now, popularity of solar energy is spreading out steadily. In the future, most people will be able to depend on solar energy as long as the sun exists. Now is the time to think about the use of solar energy more seriously.


References:

Car engines going solar (2002). Retrieved February 20, 2007 from
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3739/is_200212/ai_n9156350

Chiang, M. (2003). Recharge! In a polluted world, can nature provide cleaner
energy? – Renewable energy. Retrieved February 20, 2007 from
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_13_59/ai_100879585

Concentrating solar power ready to replace fossil fuels, say Colorado ratepayers
(2006, August 18). Business Wire. Retrieved February 19, 2007 from LexusNexus database.

Herzfeld, S. (2004). Sun power: solar thermal hot water systems save energy
and money. Retrieved February 1, 2007 from
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_38_52/ai_n16375144/print

Kozloff, K (1994). An urgent need, a hard sell. Retrieved February 19, 2007 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1076/is_n9_v36/ai_15931250

Miller, G. T, Jr. (1994). Environment: Problems and Splutions. Belmont:
Wadsworth Publishing Company

Solar power history (2007). Solar Home Org. Retrieved February 27, 2007 from
http://www.solarhome.org/infosolarenergyhistory.html

Solleder, J. (2006, May 3). Solar power technology enters new era. Retrieved
February 19, 2007 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601 /is_15_51/ai_n8586905/print