Solar Energy Background

The origins of mankind's use of the sun's energy go back to the beginnings of our development as a species, but for the purposes of this site we will concentrate on technological developments of the last few decades, and more specifically what's available today!

Without a doubt, fossil fuels have a limited quantity, whether we're talking a few decades or a few hundred years, the inevitable dead-end of burning oil, coal & gas is there. Only eons of time can make more of that stuff, so we as a species have no alternative but to find an alternative!

What Is Solar Energy?

Many, if not most people, when they hear the term 'solar energy' or 'solar power', will think of 'PV' or Photo-Voltaic panels - those shiny things on house or office roofs that make electricity. But solar electric is just one piece of the Solar Energy 'pie'. The other big slice is solar 'thermal' energy - this is where we use the sun's abundant (and free!) radiated heat to warm things up, then use that heat elsewhere - for example in a solar hot water system. Of course, indirectly the sun provides us with wind energy too - if you're interested in this, please see www.SolarEnergyWind.com for more information.

The solar energy world is a complex one, and this website will help you navigate some of the most interesting areas, some of the history, current products you can get right now, and where future research is taking us as a global community.

From solar powered hot water heating systems, to solar assisted Air Conditioning systems, to solar attic fans and full photo-voltaic solar electric systems, it is covered here. In addition, if you decide you want to talk with a local expert and get a no-obligation price, click on the 'Find an Installer' link at the top of any page - they can tell you about your own local utility & government incentives, assess your return-on-investment, survey your proposed installation site, plus much more. Click on any of the above links to learn more.

Finally, if you're interested in browsing what incentives your utility company is offering to you for investing in solar products, check out DSIRE's website at: