Solar Power!

Solar power. It seems like such a simple concept. Taking something that we have an unlimited supply of and using it to run our world.  Solar power is the transformation of sunlight to electricity in order to power our lives.  Solar conversion transfers large amounts of light into a small beam. Commercial solar power plants came about in the 1980’s.   One of the largest power plants in the world is in the Mojave Desert.  The possibilities with the conversion of solar energy into power are very promising.  As our lives require more and more power, it is becoming more and more clear that resources such as oil are limited and not easily accessible.  And as people are trying to develop alternative forms of energy, it is also becoming apparent that many other forms of energy are either limited or hard to obtain or create.  The one major problem that many people see with the implementation of solar energy is the cost of integrating solar energy into our world.  However, as technology progresses and viable alternatives become more and more limited, more production of solar panels will begin and in the future this method of power will be more accessible to the general public.  I also think that growing up learning about peak oil and the limits of our current energy production methods have better equipped our generation then previous generations.  At Santa Clara University, we are very conscious of the environment and effects of our actions on the future of our world.  Santa Clara University’s students work very hard producing a project every other year to enter in the solar decathlon, working towards a better future for us all.   I believe that solar energy is a very viable option for the future.  While many others are trying to create or utilize other untapped energy sources, many other options take more work to produce than they put out.  Solar panels are becoming more and more popular and widespread.  In thinking about the future, sustainability is becoming a more pressing matter.  Although I am not going to buy a house for a few years, I am thinking about how I would like to implement technology such as solar panels into my life in order to provide energy stability as well as an environmentally friendly and efficient way to power my life.  While the main issue that many individuals and companies have with solar energy is the cost of setting up the system, the future savings are huge.  And these savings are not only monetary, but environmental and long term.  I truly think that we can have a remarkable future with solar energy incorporated into our world.  It will provide a pretty much unending means of power.  Solar power is not only a way to improve our future energy supply, but also our future state of mind.  The sun makes us happy, gives us a tan, provides us with light, and brightens our world.  As a society, we need to accept that if we take the steps now, the sun can brighten our future, too!