Solar power reaches the earth in two different ways-by heat and by light. Solar cells and other sources collect this heat to produce electricity, but it is often overlooked that the sun’s light can be very useful as well. For much of our country’s history, Americans depended on the sun for lighting our homes and […]

Solar energy design can be used to achieve comfortable temperatures and light levels through either passive solar design or active solar design. Through passive solar design, the entrance of sunlight in cold conditions is maximized and the entrance in hot weather is reduced. In contrast to active solar design, such as the use of solar […]

If you’ve ever used a small solar-powered calculator in grade school, you have a little understanding about how solar cells, also called photovoltaics, work. You probably played with your calculator at this young age, watching the numbers on the screen disappear as you covered with your thumb the small gray squares on the face of […]

One of the most talked about forms of alternative energy in the world today is solar power. While the concept of using panels to collect heat from the sun, which is then translated into energy to fuel your home, car, business, etc., once seemed like a futuristic concept, solar panels are actually being used in […]