Energy Conservation through Usage of Alternative Sources

From electricity to fossil fuel, energy powers our daily lives. However, we often take this continuous supply of energy for granted until we are faced with the prospect of having to pay more for it (such as with the ever increasing gas prices) to not having it at all (such as during a natural disaster or energy shortage). From sending out our email communications to getting us from home to the office to heating up our dinner, we, as a society, are very dependent on energy. Decreasing our energy consumption might not always be possible, but finding more efficient energy alternatives such as solar power is.

How can choosing solar power help energy conservation? Solar power is quite a new alternative energy source that has only recently been tapped. However, it could quite easily be our best option in future energy sources because of its many advantages over alternative renewable energy sources.

Solar power converts sunlight directly to electricity. Therefore, it is a renewable energy source in that the sun and the energy it provides will (at least in our lifetime) never run out. Furthermore, solar power has no waste and as a result, does not contribute to pollution. There is also no cost for solar power except for the initial investment in solar panels and other equipment. Moreover, solar cells can even last a lifetime, making it a one-time investment.

Why would we choose to conserve energy and use solar power instead? The main reasons include: protecting our already threatened environment (since solar power is a clean energy source, free from pollution), increase our financial savings (since solar power is free and after the initial investment basically also free of maintenance costs), and more importantly, it is a renewable energy source meaning it will be naturally replenished. However, unlike other renewable energy sources such as wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, solar power is more reliable since the sun rises and sets like clockwork.