Since the historic times, the sun has played a pivotal role in the existence of life on this world. Both man and plants have benefited from this vital resource. Adequate exposure to the sunrays has beneficial health effects to people. And, plants, which humans ultimately feed on, manufacture their food through the use of sun rays.
Nonetheless, with the increased depletion of fossil fuels, it was not until the twentieth century that the uses of the energy from the sun were exploited. One of the most common uses of sunlight is its conversion into electricity using photovoltaic cells to generate electric energy for operating various appliances.
The use of solar energy should be adopted in all states because it is a renewable energy source, environmentally friendly, cheaper in the long run, and are not limited to geographical constraints.
The use of solar energy has been emphasized in some states in the U.S. because it is a renewable source of energy. States like California, New Jersey, and Colorado are at the forefront in promoting its use as a source of energy generation (Pisani, 2009).
The emphasis on renewable sources of energy has been enhanced by the fact that the limited world’s resources are increasingly being depleted; thus, the states have adopted the use of solar energy so as to assist in the conservation efforts (Wanamingo, n.d.).
Compared to other energy sources, sunlight is very efficient because we do not need to worry that it is going to be depleted. Sunlight is a constant source of energy that is present on a daily basis; thus, it is impossible to use it all up.
Humankind has milked the planet’s vital energy reservoirs without caring for the needs of the generations to come in future. Although the price of has oil has escalated greatly, the world’s thirst for oil has never been quenched. It is approximated that if the current trend is not controlled, then the world’s need for oil is expected to increase by more than 60% within the next twenty years.
Thus, adoption of the use of solar energy should be propagated. It is possible, and as the three states have found out, sunlight will be available even after the non-renewable energy sources have been exhausted from the face of the earth.
Investigations have revealed that the cost of electricity in the United States has been increasing at an approximated rate of 6.5 percent every year for the past thirty years (Peter, 2005). This implies that the tremendous increase in the cost of electricity may result in unprecedented price increases in consumer power bills. Moreover, the high cost of electricity will lead to increase in the price of related consumer goods and transport costs.
Consequently, the high cost of living can lead to tensions and turmoil as people protest against the high prices. Production of electricity by the use of conventional non-renewable resources has led to environmental problems as thousands and thousands of dangerous substances are being released to the atmos phere (Brooke, 1992).
Thus, the adoption of solar energy will stop these increases, as it will be an alternate cheaper energy source. Further, its use will reduce health costs of individuals, as it is environmentally friendly.
Carbon dioxide and other dangerous bi-products emissions have resulted in breathing problems in people, acid rain, increase in global temperature, and other environmental problems. Therefore, if no efforts are made to turn to less destructive means of energy generation, then the destruction of our planet is imminent.
It is without doubt that the world’s consumption of energy far exceeds the amount that is supplied. Thus, the solution lies in the use of sunlight for energy generation.
It is not possible for the grid to adequately provide for the increased need for power that has arisen due to growth of industries and increase in the human population. Currently, power failures take place almost on a daily basis. This is why the steps that some states have taken to have their energy supplied from the sun will make them to offset utility-supplied energy consumption.
Energy from the sun is able to meet adequately the world’s thirst for power because it is able to provide electricity even in the event of a power outage and it is independently available. Solar energy does not require to be connected to a power or a gas grid for it to function; thus, it can be installed even in the remotest parts of the country.
Further, the energy from the sun is able to meet the world’s demand for energy because it lowers the dependence on centralized energy sources that are often affected by the occurrence of natural disasters or wars and it is able to add our planet’s sustainable future.
Thus, because of the advantages aforementioned, solar energy is an efficient way of generating energy. For example, the world largest solar factory in Japan has been efficiently generating energy using sunlight to cater for its needs (MSK Corporation, 2010).
To achieve this, the company uses state-of-the –art equipment that maximizes the production of solar energy while minimizing the installation space of the solar panels. This illustrates that the efficient production of solar energy is still possible regardless of the extent of land available.
Some individuals maintain that the idea of tapping the energy from the sun is costly due to the high costs involved in installing the solar panels.
However, it is important to note that in the long run, solar panels save money or are ‘free’ once the set up process has been done (Hirschmann, 2006). Worth mentioning, the recovery period for the investment is shorter for a household or a company that uses more electricity on a daily basis.
Further, solar panels are less costly since they do not need any fuel for their operation; therefore, they are not affected by the fluctuation of world oil price. Therefore, the benefits of solar energy can only be experienced if every state were to adopt its use.
Some states in the United States have argued that the installation of solar energy devices require a lot of space in order to function effectively. However, the limitation of space to accommodate the devices can be surmounted effectively through developing creative initiatives.
Some of these include attaching grid-connected solar panels upon utility and light poles, using extra space in premises to accommodate the devices, and installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings. Thus, space cannot be a reason against the use of solar energy for energy generation.
Further, the difficulty that is often cited that solar energy cannot be produced at night can be surmounted by having an effective battery backup system or through practicing net metering. Because the level of efficiency of the solar panels relies on the direction of the sun, installing certain components in them will make sure that they function optimally in a variety of conditions.
To this end, it is evident that the use of solar energy should be adopted in every state in the United States because its benefits are far-reaching. It is estimated that even if the U.S. could get only forty minutes of sunlight per day, it is able to generate more energy than all the oil it uses in a year.
Thus, the use of energy from the sun is able to provide renewable sources of energy, adequately meet the increased demand for energy, save money, protect the environment, reduce utility-supplied energy consumption, and enhance the affordability of energy. This calls for the adoption of the use of solar energy by all the states in the U.S. to inform the whole world about the advantages of this natural renewable source of energy.
References
Brooke, B. (1992). Solar energy. New York: Chelsea House.
Hirschmann, K. (2006). Solar energy. Farmington Hills, MI: KidHaven Press.
MSK Corporation. (2010). World’s Largest Solar Factory Opens in Japan. CBS Interactive. Web.
Peter, K. (2005). Here Comes the Sun: Solar Energy Is Becoming More Attractive For Mainstream Consumers. Affordable solar power. Web.
Pisani, J. (2009). New Jersey Outshines Most Others in Solar Energy. CNBC. Web.
Wanamingo, E. S. (N.d.). Solar energy. Teen Ink. Web.