Why Solar Power?

By: patt Date Posted: March 17, 2009

The high prices that Americans have recently been paying at the gas pump motivates them to reflect on the root cause of the problem and consider the consequences of our nation’s dangerous addiction to foreign oil. Americans’ oil habits threatens our economy and at the same time it is pinching our pockets. It also fuels OPEC’s rising profits.

Tthe Department of Energy reports that the United States currently uses nearly 20 million barrels of oil a day, importing 55 percent of it. We spend more than $20 billion each year on oil from the Middle East. Twenty years from now, U.S. consumption will rise to 28.3 million barrels of oil a day, with 70 percent of it imported. This heavy reliance on foreign oil makes America increasingly dependent on some of the least stable, undemocratic countries in the world. (See Graph)

Others have expressed great concern for the effects of global warming. It is becoming a huge problem which will significantly affect every country in the world. All over the world people are trying to do whatever they can to help combat the effects of global warming. People can fight global warming by reducing their dependence on non-renewable energy sources like oil and petroleum based products. This has created a vast increase in interest to find ways to live in a more environmentally responsible way and to find ways to wean us from our addiction to petroleum by utilizing alternate fuel sources.

Finding ways to become more environmentally responsible and still meet the requirements of everyday life is not always easy. For many people taking public transportation or riding a bicycle to work is just not a feasible option. Whether or not you can take public transportation really depends on where you live and how much of a public transportation system there is in place in that area. It’s not unusual for a large city to have a public transportation system that doesn’t function well in reaching its population or a smaller city not to have any public transportation available at all.

So what options exist for people who want to live in a more environmentally-responsible way but still deal with day-to-day realities? Using solar energy to help heat and power your home is one of the choices that people can make to contribute to a solution. Solar energy is a completely renewable energy source that will save money on your heating and electricity costs as well as reduce consumption of environmental resources and reduce consumption of petroleum.

In recent years technology related to the use of solar energy has come a long way. Major strides have been made in solar power systems developed. Investment by government and industry in the development of solar power technology has made it possible to use solar power much more affordably and feasibly. Today’s homeowner and apartment dweller are able to use solar energy and help the environment while saving money. Commercial developers are able to incorporate solar energy into their building designs and build homes that have been constructed with solar power systems installed during the building process.

The use of solar energy as a main power source is still relatively new in the United States. Other countries especially those in Europe have been relying on solar power for a large amount of their energy needs for years. These countries have proven that with the right equipment and technology it is possible to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources. Because solar energy produces no greenhouse gases, using solar power helps the environment and reduces our dependence on oil consumption. The Solar Power industry in the United States is making great strides in making solar energy efficient and affordable for those interested in using it in their homes and businesses.

Total Imports of Oil