| Everywhere you turn, from TV or advocacy groups | | | | natural gas produce a lot of greenhouse gasses, but |
| to the Obama administration, people are talking about | | | | solar power produces none at all. If you wish to lower |
| solar power. What causes all of this interest in solar | | | | your carbon footprint, solar electricity is a great way to |
| electricity? While it is the many advantages that excite | | | | do it. There are no emissions of any kind produced by |
| so many people, there are also some disadvantages. If | | | | solar power. |
| you have some know-how and are willing to put in | | | | Lower dependence on foreign oil |
| some work yourself, most of the disadvantages can | | | | Dependence on foreign oil is widely considered one of |
| be overcome. | | | | the biggest security threats today. Using solar power |
| Advantages | | | | will reduce dependence on foreign oil. Any power that |
| Infinite energy source | | | | is currently produced with foreign oil can be directly |
| There is a never-ending supply of solar energy | | | | replaced by domestically produced solar electricity. |
| because it is produced by the sun all the time. Every | | | | Disadvantages |
| day, all year the sun is producing energy. While fossil | | | | Initial cost |
| fuels like natural gas and oil will eventually run out, solar | | | | Most people consider initial cost to the be the biggest |
| energy will continue to be available until the sun | | | | disadvantages to solar electricity. The initial cost of |
| disappears and at that point we'll have a lot bigger | | | | solar panels can be quite high, while the ongoing costs |
| problems to be worried about than how to power our | | | | of solar electricity are very small. With the required |
| air conditioners. As fossil fuels become more and | | | | know-how, the initial cost can be reduced a great deal |
| more scarce, the cost will continue to increase. The | | | | by building solar panels yourself. |
| opposite is true of solar electricity! It will never run out | | | | Required space |
| and the cost will continue to go down as technology | | | | Solar panels must be oriented so they point to the |
| gets better and better. | | | | south and also need enough space for all the panels. |
| Free energy | | | | Solar panels work best in areas that get a lot of sun. |
| Power from the sun will continue to be free as long as | | | | There are solar maps available that show the average |
| the sun is shining. Aside from battery replacement, if | | | | sun in different areas. A larger score means that a |
| batteries are used in the solar power system, there is | | | | solar panel of the same size will produce more |
| virtually no ongoing cost for solar power. If you install | | | | electricity than a solar panel in an area with a smaller |
| enough solar panels, you can disconnect from the | | | | score. You will need more solar panels to generate |
| power company and never pay an electric bill again. | | | | sufficient electricity to power your house if you live in |
| This is called living off grid. If you can generate more | | | | an area with a lower score. |
| energy than you need, you can stay connected to the | | | | As you can see, there are advantages and |
| grid and actually sell the extra electricity to the power | | | | disadvantages to solar electricity. The advantages of |
| company! | | | | solar power, however, outweigh the disadvantages |
| No greenhouse gasses | | | | and you can avoid most of the disadvantages by |
| For people who are concerned about global warming, | | | | building your own solar panels. |
| solar energy is the answer! Fossil fuels like oil and | | | | |