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Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

Solar future or no future

25 Jan 09 | Commentary, Environment, Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water

Our sun, either directly or indirectly, powers almost everything we do.  The only non-sun power used on Earth is nuclear energy, the production of which, as of 2005, amounts to about 6.3% of the total energy used.   The rest of the world’s energy is solar energy, either directly, indirectly by use of hydro or wind power, or through energy stored in fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

Latest EIT image courtesy NASA

Latest EIT image courtesy NASA

The process that created these fossil fuels is complex and took several millions of years to complete.  Humans began to uses fossil fuels as primary energy sources during the 1850’s.  Since Then, the use has grown exponentially because the use of coal and oil allowed larger, more powerful machinery to extract and transport more coal and oil. What took nature hundreds of millions of years to create, humans have burned through in about 160 years.

The process for creating fossil fuels begins with photosynthesis.  The sun’s energy provides the engine for plants and other vegetative matter to fix carbon molecules from CO2.  Carbon fixation is the process that generates oxygen (O2) in our atmosphere and is the central process that allows life to exist on earth.

Once carbon is released from CO2, it is bound into long and short chains with sugars and starches that create plant structures.  These plants either die and decompose or are consumed by animals which in turn die and decompose.  The organic material is then broken down into carbon and hydrogen compounds in various forms.

There is no substitute for photosynthesis when it comes to carbon fixation.  In short, plants are the most efficient way to break up CO2 into its base elements creating the building blocks for life.  Basically, we are burning through our energy supply a million times faster than it can ever be replaced.  Surely this system is not sustainable and eventually will run out of fuel.  If the peak oil theory is to be believed, that will happen sooner, rather than later.

As outlined in the post “The Sun Powers Everything,”  even if all of the variables are considered, there is more than enough energy strikes the earth everyday to power all of our current needs and then some.  With the current technology, we can tap that power and make a useful and significant reduction in our fossil fuel use.  As technology evolves and more efficient devices are designed and manufactured, more of that power can be converted directly into heat and electricity for us to use.

Without solar power, humans will run out of energy and the life and society that has taken thousands of years to develope will colapse.  This is the most pressing issue of our time, all else pales by comparison.

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25 Jan 09 | Commentary, Environment, Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water
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Reader's Comments

  1. Todd | January 25th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    Well said Paul. The sun is an amazing object. That’s a pretty sweat picture!

  2. paul | January 28th, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Todd, that picture is from the NASA EIT project. Other images can be found here: http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eit/eit_full_res.html

  3. Linda | June 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    One of the most fundamental rights we have as humans is access to the sun and to the wind! No power company can prevent you from adding solar panels or windmills to your household. Some power companies would prefer that we be in the dark on how to tap into renewable energy to generate electricity and save money.

    Energy bills are in the top 5 home expenses and may easily be reduced by every household with simple homemade solar panels and wind generators. The renewable energy enthusists are on a mission to reduce electric bills, become energy efficient, and generate electricity with DIY solar panel and windmill instructions from experts.

    “Net Metering”, gaining credits with your local electric company, must be passed in every state for solar to become an attractive solution for home energy requirements. Homeowners need a way of channeling excess electricity into an “energy bank account” other than buying and maintaining their own batteries.

  4. Solar Panel | July 23rd, 2009 at 5:47 am

    Thanks for this great post…



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