Installing solar energy on your home or business can be a daunting task, and even the process of gathering information can be overwhelming. Part 1 of this series discussed the basics of solar energy, but even more detailed information can be found at the Green Options wiki. In particular, the solar entry and the photovoltaic (PV) facts sheet are good introductions.

Green Options also has a growing list of discussion forums with topics like “Alternative Energy” and – my favorite – the “Solar Power Fan Club.” You can post a question, comment, or recommendation and hook up with other folks who are exploring solar for the first time or perhaps are seasoned users. You can even start a new discussion thread if your topic doesn’t fit an established one.

You’ll see even more from Green Options in the near future; our online tools will provide practical assistance and information to help you get started on the road to solar. In the meantime, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency is a good, easy-to-navigate site that has financial assistance organized by type (utility rebates, state incentives, etc). The Solar Energy Industries Association is in 14 states and monitors state programs, stays up-to-date on legislation, and can help out homeowners who are having trouble with a local homeowners association or zoning board.

If you are thinking of going solar, or perhaps are already in the process, be assured that there are lots of other folks out there also learning and making the switch. We here at Green Options hope to make that journey a bit easier.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
Solar Energy Industries Association

Welcome to Green Options! To help you begin greening your good life, my blog will feature a 3-part series on the basics of solar power. I’ll start today with a simple background and history of solar energy, then on Friday I’ll cover why we may be at the dawning of the Solar Age, and then finally on Saturday I’ll plug this all into Green Options and how we can help you take advantage of this limitless resource.

Believe it or not, humans have been trying to harness the sun’s incredible power to make electricity for years. Some visionaries, at the height of the industrial revolution, questioned what the world would do after using up all the fossil fuel supplies and began exploring solar power. Frank Shuman, a solar engineer in the early 20th century, declared that the sun is “the most rational source of power.”

Today, the most common type of solar power you probably see – whether on roofs or yard lights – use photovoltaic cells or “PVs” to convert sunlight into energy. PV cells are small, square semiconductors made in thin film layers, mostly from silicon. When the sun shines on the cell, a chemical reaction releases electrons, generating direct current (DC) electricity. The current is then fed through an inverter to make alternating current (AC). For a more detailed description, click here to see a short video from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Currently there are 475 megawatts of solar power installed in the United States, enough to power about 240,000 homes. The U.S. used to be the global leader in PV manufacturing, but has been surpassed by Japan and is barely ahead of China. However, no country has even begun to tap the sun’s potential: The amount of energy from sunlight that hits the earth every hour is more energy than humans can use in an entire year. But with the right government incentives like we're seeing in California, combined with entrepreneurs and a good business climate, many are predicting a sunny outlook for solar technologies.

Boston Museum of Science
DuPont
History of Solar Energy
Investors Business Daily
The Solar Depot
U.S. Department of Energy