Solar+Energy-+Sample

On this page you will find:
 * Definition/Classification
 * Chart/Graph
 * Video
 * Picture
 * Survey
 * Summary
 * Works Cited (Bibliography)

Group Members: Robbie Casas (Definition, Chart, Picture) and Rachelle Wooten (Video, Survey, Summary)

Definition
Solar Energy - is one of the fastest growing __//**renewable**//__ resources being used today. Simply put solar energy is considered "**Energy from the sun."**  [|Solar energy] is a reliable and never ending source of energy. Although the initial cost of using the solar energy may be high, the high price can be recovered as after the system is installed, there will be no cost of producing the electricity. Since solar energy comes directly from the sun, it is not only renewable, but also accessible in any part of the world. As long as the proper equipment is utilized, unlimited amounts of solar power can be collected and put to good use.

Solar power is also one of the cleanest forms of energy, since it creates no pollution, and produces no greenhouse gases or waste products. For residential uses, the use of solar power minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding environment, making it a safer alternative to wind or hydro power. Not only is solar energy non-pollutant, in terms of gases, but it also causes zero noise pollution – since there are no moving parts in any of the devices which are used to capture the sunlight. Because no moving parts are used, maintenance costs are low as well – only occasional cleaning and periodic battery replacements are needed. Most manufacturers of solar panels provide twenty-year warranties for their equipment, guaranteeing long-life operation. Solar panels placed on rooftops also double as a heat absorbers, slightly cooling the top area of the house which is directly below the roof.

Chart

 * ==Advantages of Solar Energy== || ==Disadvantages of Solar Energy== ||
 * ==Saves money==

Environmentally frienly
|| ==Initial cost==

Not available at night
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Video
media type="custom" key="8797442" width="130" height="130" align="left" This is where I will include some written points about my video like: why did I choose this video? what did I learn that I didn't know already? Is solar energy the way to go and why or why not?

Since solar energy comes directly from the sun, it is not only renewable, but also accessible in any part of the world. As long as the proper equipment is utilized, unlimited amounts of solar power can be collected and put to good use. Solar power is also one of the cleanest forms of energy, since it creates no pollution, and produces no greenhouse gases or waste products. For residential uses, the use of solar power minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding environment, making it a safer alternative to wind or hydro power. Not only is solar energy non-pollutant, in terms of gases, but it also causes zero noise pollution – since there are no moving parts in any of the devices which are used to capture the sunlight. Because no moving parts are used, maintenance costs are low as well – only occasional cleaning and periodic battery replacements are needed. Most manufacturers of solar panels provide twenty-year warranties for their equipment, guaranteeing long-life operation. Solar panels placed on rooftops also double as a heat absorbers, slightly cooling the top area of the house which is directly below the roof.

Picture
This is an example of solar energy that is used at Maplewood Elementary School in Austin, TX. Texas is full of potential for using Solar Energy. See map below

The energy from sunshine falling on a single acre of land in West Texas is capable of producing the energy equivalent of 800 barrels of oil each year.

Poll
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Summary
<span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">**Solar Radiation in Texas**

<span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Texas has a virtually unlimited solar energy supply, ranking first in the nation in solar resource potential, with high levels of direct solar radiation. suitable to support large-scale solar power plants. concentrated in West Texas, which has 75 percent more direct solar radiation than East Texas, making it an ideal location for utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. <span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Solar Energy Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin emphasizes research on solar radiation measurements at several sites across Texas compiled as the [|**__Texas Solar Radiation Data Base__**]. The database information includes monthly solar radiation averages for these locations. Also see this solar radiation data with [|**__average BTU's output per day__**] for 8 Texas cities, provided by Thermo Technologies. <span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Texas is one of seven states partnering with DOE and the Western Governors Association to install concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. The program's overall goal is to install 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new CSP systems in the southwestern United States by 2010. For additional information, see the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) web site, ** [|__Southwest Concentrating Solar Power 1000-MW Initiative__] **.

**Works Cited**
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