Why is Using Solar Power Better Instead of Oil? The Benefits of "Going Green"

There are many advantages to using solar power. The sun is the ultimate source of energy. It creates the climate that moves the air and water that we use for wind and hydro power. Even fossil fuels like coal and oil are byproducts of ancient plants and sea-creatures that were nourished by the sun. With advances in technology, our modern societies can slowly come to rely on abundant solar energy as oil becomes too damaging and costly. So why is using solar power better instead of oil?

The number one reason that solar power isn't common today is because of the high initial investment. As much as people want to help the environment, the price is simply not affordable for many. Fortunately, advances in material science and semiconductor manufacturing have reduced the cost of solar-generated electricity. As an added benefit, those who choose to convert to solar power will enjoy savings on their utility bills to help offset the initial investment in "going green."

A huge advantage of solar power is that it is a clean and renewable resource. By contrast, oil is a limited resource that has damaging effects on the environment. Oil is a concentrated form of energy that can provide instantaneous heat and work. However, it needs to be extracted from the ground, transported long distances and then refined into useful products such as home heating-oil and gasoline. It causes pollution, damages the atmosphere and is becoming a scarce commodity.

In comparison, the future of solar energy seems bright. This environmentally-friendly, pollution-free energy source can be used to heat and power our homes, and of course, can also be used to grow our food. Solar power does not emit harmful greenhouse gases, and it's freely available and renewable. Each day when the sun comes up, we have another opportunity to harness its energy.

Architects have been taking advantage of this free heat for millennia. Passive solar collectors can be designed into buildings to dramatically reduce energy consumption. Simple considerations in design, such as south-facing windows, are easy, low-maintenance techniques that brings the sun's energy into indoor environments. Besides solar home heating, residential homes can also use solar water heating.

Solar power shows promise as an alternative to oil. Improvements in heat storage systems are still decades away from completely replacing oil and gas furnaces. But for now, they can help reduce fuel consumption by supplementing fuel-hungry furnaces.