Define Solar Energy

How do you define solar energy? According to Wikipedia, there are two (2)ways:

1.)  Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.

2.) Solar power technologies provide electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics. Once converted its uses are only limited by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, day lighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

There are many ways we harness the energy from the sun and we are seeing various energy innovations ranging from passive solar to active solar. An example of passive solar is to position your home to capture the heat from sunlight via windows during the winter months and to have your home positioned (windows) to not absorb heat from sunlight during summer months, to keep your home cool.

We continue to define solar energy every day via new ideas and inventions ranging from state of the art solar panels, to solar cookers as seen in the photo below:

One thing is certain, technology is changing and progressing every day. The ways people are looking to define solar energy is changing too. It was not too long ago that we had record players and 8 track players. Now we have tiny mp3 players and other small devices as ways to listen to music. Some day, we will be able to have a mini solar panel which will be able to absorb the energy from the sun to power our homes, cars, and other devices.

If you are using solar energy, or have a solar invention, feel free to upload your video to us and we will air it on GreenEnergyTV.com  Here's the link: http://www.greenenergytv.com/Upload.aspx  - Stay Green!