Solar Power

Solar power has got to be one of the coolest things around. It uses a free and abundant resource to create energy without taxing any resources or taking anything from the earth. In an era in which it seems all of our crucial standard forms of power are depleting the earth of everything its got, its good to see energy companies sponsor events like the BP Solar Decathlon.

Basically, it is a competition in which university teams design, build and operate completely solar powered homes that are livable. Right now, to have a fully solar powered home, its pretty darn expensive for the building costs. This competition though also takes cost into consideration. The goal is to build a cost efficient home that, once built, will require no energy resources other than the sun.

Living in CA, this is an ideal thing to have. We have plenty of sunshine and the power company in my area offers a buyback type program. It allows homeowners to not only use solar energy but also bank it with the power company so that in the winter months, their energy bill is nearly non-existent.

I would love to see the car industry focus on building a car that is powered mainly by solar energy. Granted, in places like Alaska, that might not sell too well but in places like Arizona or California, it would be a hit. We get plenty of sun. Maybe it won’t happen in my lifetime, but I would love to see my great-grandchildren living in a world that everything is reliant upon sun, water and wind for energy.