Earthly matters

Clean and abundant solar power has been making inroads into home energy needs since the 1970's. Solar energy can be utilized as a form of heat, such as with solar water heating, and increasingly for electricity, in the form of solar photovoltaics. Water heating is one of the most cost effective uses of solar energy, including heating water for showers, dishwashers and clothes washers, however back up power is needed.

The typical solar water heater can provide enough energy to meet about one half of the water heating needs of a family of four. Consumers can also buy freeze protected solar water heaters so they can rely on the sun's energy year round. The use of a photovoltaic module in a solar water heater allows it to operate even during a power outage.

Photovoltaic or solar cells are made of silicon and allow for the direct creation of electricity. Home heating from the sun from sunlight. Until recently, their use has been limited because of high manufacturing costs, so while they may have become preferred sources of power for orbital satellites, home use has been a lot less common. Costs have been steadily declining over the past 15 years, and with many places now giving tax rebates, it is estimated that solar electric power can now pay for itself in five to ten years.

Solar power has been demonstrated to be a safe, reliable and generally maintenance free source of power. Most modules on the market come with warranties exceeding 20 years, and experience has shown they will perform much longer. Passive solar is the cheapest method of free energy and does not rely on mechanics, but involves selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air and positioning a building with an eye to the sun.