By: the Six Girls

Despite the popularity of present energy resources, we feel that solar power will be taking the world by storm in the years to come. In fact, it has already started doing just that. Solar power is being used to heat homes and provide hot water service for industrial and residential purposes. Today, you can even heat your backyard pool using solar technology.

So why is solar Power so great?

Solar energy=good energy because you can take it directly from the sun (no shovels involved.)

Did you know?

Radiation traveling outward from the sun at 300,000km/sec.(186,000 miles/sec.) takes only eight minutes to reach the earth.

Solar energy is also cost efficient. Facilities and homeowners that use solar power save thousands of dollars per year!

St.Rose Hospital in San Antonio, Texas saved $17,000 per year by using solar power to create hot water.

Solar thermal systems are also very reliable and are being used in thousands of homes, utility power stations, commercial and industrial facilities.

Solar technology continues to evolve as new methhods are being found to lower the cost of solar service and improve the efficiency and reliability of solar power.

Now for some Interesting

* Solar collectors can gather solar thermal energy in almost any climate.

* The world's first solar collector was called a "Hot box" and was created by astronomer Sir John Herchel in 1767.

* Around 250,000 commercial and industrial buildings in the United States use solar thermal systems to provide hot water or space heating.