Solar+2


 * Solar** **Energy**


 * Definition:** relating to or denoting energy derived from the sun's rays.

The light and radiant heat from the Sun that influences Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. The use of sunlight for heating or generating electricity.
 * Solar Energy's Source**

Solar energy can be converted to thermal energy and used to heat water such as in homes, buildings, or swimming pools. It can also be used to heat spaces, such as inside greenhouses, homes, and other buildings. Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways. The Photovoltaic devices that change sunlight directly into electricity and in Solar Power Plants where electricity is generated when the heat from solar thermal collectors.
 * How is this source used to make energy?**

In passive solar heating the suns energy is collected, stored, and distributed naturally in an enclosed place. Passive solar heating does not include any sort of mechanical heating device, but rather the natural circulation of air throughout the home. Building features often incorporated with passive solar power include large windows, fans, stone flooring, and brick walls. In active solar heating devices are used to collect, store, and circulate heat produced from solar energy. Active solar heating involves mechanics and relies on three components: a solar collector to absorb the energy, a solar storage system, and a heat transfer system to circulate the heat to the correct places. Active heating includes solar collectors. Solar collectors are mounted on the roofs of houses or buildings where they can capture the maximum amount of the sun’s energy.
 * Passive Solar Heating**
 * Active Solar Heating**

Alternative energy systems including solar electric panels, wind generators and other high quality renewable energy equipment. Solar panels to produce electricity with 25-year warranties, wind generators, hydro-electric turbines, complete solar electric systems and renewable energy equipment for the production, control and use of electricity.
 * What equipment do you need for converting to energy?**

Yarmouth High School recently put in solar pannels. view2.fatspaniel.net/PV2Web/merge?&view=PV/detailDC/HostedAdmin&eid=107505
 * Real-Life Example**

-After initial investment, energy from the sun is practically free. -Environmentally friendly: clean, renewable, and sustainable. -Low/no maintenance: virtually maintenance free and will last for decades
 * Advantages**:

-Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency -The efficiency depends on the placement of the sun -No solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem.
 * Disadvantages:**

•In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.
 * The most unusual fact we learned was…**