Since the prehistoric times, mankind has used

With the advancement of the technology, it has been made possible to trap the solar energy and use it for homes and offices. Today, sun's energy has become an important alternative to the energy produced through geothermal, wind and biomass, and hydro-electricity, among others. You can use sun's heat and light to run your gadgets, heat or cool your home, heat swimming pools and water, dry wet clothes, light up homes and so on. This not only helps in saving money on electricity bills but also keeps the environment green.

Photovoltaic solar panels are the most common types of solar energy installations that help in producing energy to heat water, distill water and do cooking at home. The light and heat so generated is also used for industrial purposes. These solar panels have thermal absorbers which help in producing energy when exposed to direct rays of the sun. The solar panels are installed on the roof tops. They are usually made of silicon crystals, which are either polycrystalline or monocrystalline. The solar panels are either mounted on stands on the roof tops to trap solar energy or laid in a row.

So, what happens after the solar panels absorb the sun's rays? After absorption, the solar energy is converted to electric energy. It is then backed up through the power batteries to be used when needed. The solar energy power stored in this way can be used for heating water, cooking or used in the several industrial productions. In the surge of environment-friendly power sources, several industries have decided to go green.

There are many industries that have embraced solar energy and installed panels to use sun's rays as the primary source of power. Some governments also offer subsidized solar equipments to support the local industries take up the green approach. This not only saves money but also creates a good name of the industry. Furthermore, the properties with solar panels installed have a much higher resale value than the ordinary homes.

Though the maximum potential of solar energy is still to be utilized, there have been several efforts to tap the natural resource and use it as an alternative source of heat and light energy, both at homes and industries. This source of energy is inexhaustible as compared to the energy derived from natural gas, oil, coal, and uranium. Furthermore, the solar energy also does not have any adverse impact on the environment.