More and more people are taking a first step towards using alternative energy sources now that the reality of declining availability of fossil fuels is hitting home at last.

Here are some interesting facts regarding solar energy that might help you get started.

1. The Earth receives more energy from the sun in just a single hour than the entire human population could use in a full year!

2. Solar radiation reaches the Earth’s orbit at a rate of 1,366 watts per square meter. This number is referred to as the “solar constant”. However, approximately 25% of this energy never makes it through the atmosphere leaving about 1,000 watts per square meter arriving at sea level.

3. The average solar energy received on land is even lower. In North America, for example, the average power of solar radiation striking the ground is between 125 and 375 watts per square meter or between 3 and 9 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per square meter per day. (A kilowatt-hour is the energy of 1,000 watts received or generated over a period of 1 hour.)

4. The energy output of a 1 kilowatt solar energy unit is about the same as burning 170 pounds of coal.

5. There is more to solar energy than the generation of electricity. The sun can be even more easily used as a source of thermal energy.

6. Solar electric power and solar thermal together can be used for heating, cooling, lighting, cooking, communications, and many other applications. It is very versatile. A good place to start when building your first solar power system is with a small solar emergency backup system, especially useful if your area gets blackouts.

Facts about Solar Energy for Your Home

1. You can store energy in a battery for use on days when the sun is not shining. Obviously, the more batteries in your system, the more energy you can store.

2. In some areas, the local or federal government will grant a tax credit to homeowners who install solar systems.

3. The excess energy generated by your home solar power system over and above what you can use can be fed back into the local electrical grid giving you credit from the electric company. This credit is available any time you need to draw electricity from the grid during nights or periods of poor weather.

4. Solar power systems typically take 3-5 years to pay for themselves. However, the lower utility bills will be noticed immediately. If the units are installed professionally, nearly half of the cost may be recovered through federal support programs.

5. The economics of solar energy are sufficient for most locations in the United States to justify the system. In some cases it is better to build your own panels; in other cases it is better to purchase them commercially.

6. A typical solar panel is built of approximately 40 individual solar cells. The cells are mounted on a board. A one-kilowatt system will take about 10 panels, which is the equivalent of about 400 solar cells. For a better understanding of solar power, take the free Intro to Solar Power Systems course.

7. The typical American home uses 920 kilowatt-hours of power per month. Since most electricity generation plants burn coal, which is the equivalent of 770 pounds of coal.

8. The one-kilowatt home system can produce enough energy to prevent the burning of more than 150 pounds of coal per year.

A discussion of whether to build or buy can be found in the article Building vs Buying Solar Systems.

More and more people are taking a first step towards using alternative energy sources now that the reality of declining availability of fossil fuels is hitting home at last.

Here are some interesting facts regarding solar energy that might help you get started.

1. The Earth receives more energy from the sun in just a single hour than the entire human population could use in a full year!

2. Solar radiation reaches the Earth’s orbit at a rate of 1,366 watts per square meter. This number is referred to as the “solar constant”. However, approximately 25% of this energy never makes it through the atmosphere leaving about 1,000 watts per square meter arriving at sea level.

3. The average solar energy received on land is even lower. In North America, for example, the average power of solar radiation striking the ground is between 125 and 375 watts per square meter or between 3 and 9 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per square meter per day. (A kilowatt-hour is the energy of 1,000 watts received or generated over a period of 1 hour.)

4. The energy output of a 1 kilowatt solar energy unit is about the same as burning 170 pounds of coal.

5. There is more to solar energy than the generation of electricity. The sun can be even more easily used as a source of thermal energy.

6. Solar electric power and solar thermal together can be used for heating, cooling, lighting, cooking, communications, and many other applications. It is very versatile. A good place to start when building your first solar power system is with a small solar emergency backup system, especially useful if your area gets blackouts.

Facts about Solar Energy for Your Home

1. You can store energy in a battery for use on days when the sun is not shining. Obviously, the more batteries in your system, the more energy you can store.

2. In some areas, the local or federal government will grant a tax credit to homeowners who install solar systems.

3. The excess energy generated by your home solar power system over and above what you can use can be fed back into the local electrical grid giving you credit from the electric company. This credit is available any time you need to draw electricity from the grid during nights or periods of poor weather.

4. Solar power systems typically take 3-5 years to pay for themselves. However, the lower utility bills will be noticed immediately. If the units are installed professionally, nearly half of the cost may be recovered through federal support programs.

5. The economics of solar energy are sufficient for most locations in the United States to justify the system. In some cases it is better to build your own panels; in other cases it is better to purchase them commercially.

6. A typical solar panel is built of approximately 40 individual solar cells. The cells are mounted on a board. A one-kilowatt system will take about 10 panels, which is the equivalent of about 400 solar cells. For a better understanding of solar power, take the free Intro to Solar Power Systems course.

7. The typical American home uses 920 kilowatt-hours of power per month. Since most electricity generation plants burn coal, which is the equivalent of 770 pounds of coal.

8. The one-kilowatt home system can produce enough energy to prevent the burning of more than 150 pounds of coal per year.

A discussion of whether to build or buy can be found in the article Building vs Buying Solar Systems.