1- SAVE MONEY
a. Solar energy is free and renewable
b. The cost of photovoltaic cells has dropped significantly in the past few years and is predicted to fall further as mass production increases
c. Unused electricity can be fed back into a country’s national grid
2- REDUCES AIR POLLUTION
a. Generates no emissions and is silent
b. Photovoltaics are one of the few renewable technologies that can be integrated into the urban landscape
c. Greatly reduces CO2 emissions
3- VERY USEFUL IN THE FUTURE
a. Sun’s energy is virtually limitless; it will be available as long as humans inhabit the earth
b. Solar energy is plentiful; if it could be effectively harnessed, two days worth of solar energy could provide more power than all known fossil fuel reserves
c. Available during the day when electricity usage is at its peak

What is Solar Power?
- direct radiant energy from the sun and a number of indirect forms of energy produced by the direct input
- principal indirect forms of solar energy are wind, falling and flowing of water, and biomass
- used to power calculators and other electronic accessories
- solar panels- made up of photovoltaic cells are also sometimes used to provide electricity to houses

How does it work?
- Solar energy can be converted directly into electrical energy by photovoltaic cells (solar cells)
o Solar cell: transparent wafer containing a semiconductor material with a thickness only as thick as a sheet of paper
o Sunlight energizes and causes electrons in the semiconductor to flow, creating an electrical current
- Passive Solar Heating System: absorbs and stores heat from the sun directly within a structure (cheapest way to heat a home)
- Active Solar Heating System: collectors absorb solar energy and a fan or pump supplies part of a building’s space-heating or water-heating needs