| #ffffff;" /> | | | | model replaces the electric water heater. |
| Fun facts about solar power are popular at any | | | | * The price of photovoltaic (PV) solar power |
| age. People want serious information about solar | | | | panels has dropped 200 percent over the last 30 |
| power, but sometimes, even the serious can be | | | | years, according to the Department of Energy. |
| expressed in fun facts. | | | | Owners now pay between 10 and 40 cents per |
| Fun facts on solar power include things such as | | | | kilowatt-hour. |
| the fact that, in a single hour, enough sunlight | | | | * A study by the U.S. Department of Energy |
| reaches the earth's surface to meet the entire | | | | (USDOE) showed that solar power conditions |
| world's energy needs for a full year. Imagine! That | | | | were close to perfect (99 percent) in San |
| information comes from the American Solar | | | | Francisco on June 14th, 2000. On that day, |
| Energy Society. | | | | 100,000 customers in that area lost power. Solar |
| Here are some more fun facts on solar power. | | | | power could have provided all they needed. |
| 12 Fun Facts on Solar Power | | | | * Another USDOE study showed that the roofs |
| * As early as 1921, the Nobel Peace Prize was | | | | of California's city and county buildings, if covered |
| awarded for experiments with solar power and | | | | with solar PV panels, could generate 200 |
| photovoltaics. It was awarded to Albert Einstein. | | | | megawatts of clean electricity! Cover California's |
| * When silicon is taken from just one ton of sand, | | | | school roofs with solar power panels, and you add |
| and used in photovoltaic solar power panels, that | | | | 1,500 megawatts more to the state's peak |
| silicon can produce as much electricity as 500,000 | | | | power supply. |
| tons of burning coal. | | | | * In California, covering every available |
| * In the U.S., there are more than 10,000 homes | | | | commercial and industrial roof with solar power |
| that get their energy entirely from solar power. | | | | panels could generate all of the electricity needed |
| * Nearly 200 years ago, a British astronomer by | | | | in that state during the daytime. |
| the name of John Herschel cooked food with | | | | * Germany is making the best use of solar |
| solar power during an journey to Africa. | | | | power, even though its climate includes many |
| * California opened its first large solar power plant | | | | cloudy days. |
| in 1982. | | | | * It takes only about 8 minutes for solar energy |
| * Solar power can cut water bills by more than | | | | to travel from the sun to the earth. |
| 50 percent each year in a home where a solar | | | | |