What is Solar Energy?

Broadly speaking, solar energy is the basis for almost every form of energy we use. The sun makes plants grow, these plants are burned as fuel, or are compressed in the ground for millions of years to become oil and coal. Because of the sun, water evaporates, falls on high elevations, and flows down to the sea, spinning hydroelectric turbines as it passes. Heat from the sun creates temperature differences between geographic areas, causing the wind to blow and spin wind turbines. But, for the purposes of this section, solar energy refers to ways this energy can be used as lighting, heat, and electricity.

Why use Solar Energy?

What if you could buy a car with all of the gasoline you would ever need? This is effectively what you get when you use solar energy: an up-front investment that locks in your power rates forever.

How can you use Solar Energy?

There are three types of solar energy technology in commercial use: photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, and solar heating. Photovoltaics and concentrated solar power generate electricity and can be used in both residential and commercial settings. By contrast, solar heating harnesses the sun's energy for a variety of non-electrical heating applications such as swimming pool and space heating.
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