Solar power is "free" because one does have to get the sun to work. The sun is a star that gives us warmth and light and will soon be a useful resource of energy. Of course, the term "free" is not necessary the way we think of it usually because currently it still costs a lot to install a solar panel - A solar panel is a device which is used to convert energy contained within the sun's rays into electricity (Wiki, 2009). On average, the cost of solar electric if you do it yourself is around $7 per watt (Nothern Horizon Wind and Sun). So one would think, how do you consider this free? Well, let one think about on average, how much would one pay for their electricity monthly? Yearly? In the short run, it looks like using the nonrenewable resources is a lot better because it is cheaper. However, in the long run, the solar panel is better because installation is the only price one has to pay and the rest of the job is up the sun, which will provide one with "free" electricity that would last until however long. Thinking about it in the long run, the highly priced solar panel will soon pay back for what one has "lost" money-wised. Also, solar panel is only expensive as if now because there are not many. However, as advancements are made and more people make it, the value of it would drop to an affordable price for people who would want it meaning that what one have spent, would be "rebated" back to them faster.
The sun is part of nature and so its existence does not destroy the environment and so solar power is environmentally friendly. This means that the human population will be better off because we do not have to face pollution that will destroy our health and lead us to a contaminated world. Isn't it better to have both health and "free" energy at the same time? Compared to nonrenewable resources such as gasoline, solar power is way better because not only is gasoline expensive now because of its decline, but it also causes air pollution which "can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs. Burning eyes, cough and chest tightness are common with exposure to high levels of air pollution." (Family Doctor, 2008). Having an environmental resource, it can insure us that we will have a cleaner society leading to a healthier population. A healthier population means a healthier future.
Another reason why solar power is good is because it provides us with energy in the future. Looking at the society now, we are mostly still using the nonrenewable resources and as defined earlier, there are a limited number of supplies, which means at anytime the world would be out of such resources. The only way to have energy would be renewable sources because we can reuse it and the supply would not be as easily expended. The future would mostly be consisted of solar panels or wind mills that would give one the most natural type of energy. Plus, theses natural resources would insure us of a better future because, again, is environmentally friendly. Therefore, it would not destroy what we need, that is part of nature, to survive.
To have a better future, renewable resources would be the option. Not only is it healthier for us and the environment, it is also "free". Although, right now, it does not exactly dominate society, one should put into consideration about it because in the near future we are going to run out the limited resources and would have convert to the renewable resources. Instead of waiting, why not start earlier, why not have the world become cleaner sooner and see the how good renewable resources are.
Bonnie Huang
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