Solar+Energy

__Solar Energy:__
== Solar energy only works when the sun is shining. When the sun is not shining there is no working solar power. We use solar power for many things such as, drying laundry, and powering applinces(only if you have solar panels). The sun is so large that it takes up about 98% of the solar system's mass! Solar energy works when sunlight shines down on the solar panels, then the light is converted into energy and that is what powers your home's electrical appliances and more. The biggest drawback of installing solar panels is the cost of the solar cells. As we wrote about in the pros and cons, solar cells can cost more than 1,000 dollars and some houses may need more than one solar cell. Therefore, it could cost more than 2,000 dollars! ==

__How Animals get Energy from the Sun:[[image:http://www.saxton.org/africa/images/day5/3983-060911-cjs-IMG_1788.jpg width="150" height="124" align="right" caption="Giraffe getting energy"]]__
== Sunlight is given to plants, which then have 100% of the suns energy. An animal eats that plant so it gets energy, but a little less than 100%. Whatever eats that animal also gets energy, but a little less than what the preivous animal had. the cycle continues on and on. This is called the food chain and this is how animals get energy from the sun! ==

__**Stored Solar Energy:**__

 * When the sun isn't shining you get energy from the grid of the solar panels. The grid gets energy when the sun is shining down on the solar panels, but you are not using all of the energy being supplied. It is then stored so you can use it when the sun isn't shining. **

__Charts on Solar Energy:__
== The graph below shows the usage of solar energy throughout the year of 2010. The month of August had the most usage and the month of December had the least. We think that December had the least amout of usage because the sun doesn't shine very much and August had the most because it tends to be a very sunny month. ==

[[image:http://marzani.com/1year/SolarEnergyHistory.gif width="320" height="200" align="left"]]
__**Pros:**__
 * ** Solar energy is renewable. So as long as the sun is in existance we will have solar energy! **
 * ** No matter where you are solar enegy will be available to you. **
 * ** You are not polluting the air if you have solar panels. **
 * ** Getting energy from fossil fuels tends to be very noisy, but getting energy from solar panels is very quiet. **
 * ** The installation of solar panels costs much less than installing high voltage wires around a house.[[image:http://rlv.zcache.com/thumbs_down_sticker-p217228531186178583tdcj_210.jpg width="167" height="171" align="right" caption="CONS STINK!"]] **
 * ** Installing solar panels requires no extra room because they are put on the roof. **


 * __Cons:__**
 * ** If you are thinking about installing solar panels keep in mind that solar cells cost more than 1,000 dollars! **
 * ** If you live in a polluted area, the air pollution could affect the efficiency of your solar cells. **
 * ** Solar panels take up a large amount of roof space. **
 * ** They are also not a very pretty sight. **
 * By:** Madison **and** Ellie