| Solar energy is a potential source of free electricity | | | | cells utilize toxic materials. These are sprayed on the |
| and water heating. It offers the power to enjoy | | | | cells, and can readily be inhaled. It is estimated that |
| electrical power in remote areas of the world. It | | | | solar energy health risks associated with producing |
| seems to offer health and safety along with power, | | | | PV panels per unit energy may be between 11 and 21 |
| but does it? Solar energy health risks are seldom | | | | deaths per quadrillion joules of energy produced. Solar |
| mentioned. That may be partially due to the limited | | | | energy health risks from PV panels are very slight |
| use of this source of energy. It may also be due to | | | | once the panels are produced and installed on the |
| the lack of research in this area. Some have begun | | | | consumer's home. This type of solar energy is known |
| to study solar energy health risks, however, and if | | | | for reliability and low maintenance. The home owner |
| one researches long enough, a few estimates are | | | | seldom needs to be involved in any repairs, and |
| available. Thermal Solar Energy Health Risks Solar | | | | thereby cuts solar energy health risks. Passive Solar |
| energy health risks are inherent to the design and | | | | Energy Health Risks Passive solar energy provides |
| installation of most thermal energy systems. These | | | | safety and health. A new building that maximizes this |
| are the systems designed to heat water and air for | | | | technology can reduce energy costs by nearly one |
| household use. Solar water heaters complete three | | | | half. How? 1. Warming indoor air in a house through |
| basic operations before delivering hot water to your | | | | vertical, slanted windows facing the sun. The |
| faucet or your heating unit: 1. collect sunlight and | | | | windows capture maximum solar energy from the |
| convert it into heat energy. 2. circulate fluids that | | | | sunlight. 2. Collecting solar energy in adobe or stone |
| transfer the heat energy to a storage unit 3. store | | | | walls and floors, and then releasing it into the air as |
| the hot water until you need it The solar energy | | | | the temperature falls. 3. Collecting solar energy in a |
| health risks with such a system usually occur in the | | | | sun space, much like a greenhouse built on the sunny |
| storage units. Some units allow for the growth of | | | | side of the home. This heat is sent into the home |
| allergenic molds and fungi. If proper materials are | | | | with proper ventilation. 4. Holding water in black roof |
| used for the storage unit, however, these solar | | | | tanks until needed, cutting the working time of the |
| energy systems present few, if any, health risks. | | | | home's hot water heater. 5. Using clerestories - rows |
| Their advantages are that they are far safer than | | | | of windows near roof peaks that catch sunlight and |
| most fossil fuels or nuclear power - they have no | | | | bounce it through the building. The sunlight reduces |
| emissions and do not pollute the air. PV Panel Solar | | | | the need for electric lights. In Summary Solar energy |
| Energy Health Risks The solar energy health risks | | | | technologies present few, if any, health risks for the |
| associated with photovoltaic (PV) panels occurs | | | | end user. Their use can reduce the health risks |
| before the panels are put into use on the consumer's | | | | presented by other energy sources, providing |
| home. PV panels are the panels used to collect solar | | | | cleaner, safer, more cost effective energy. |
| energy from sunlight and convert it into usable | | | | © 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart, a career |
| electricity. The manufacture of PV panels requires the | | | | educator and researcher, invites you to read more of |
| use of toxic materials. Silicon dioxide is mined from | | | | her articles about solar energy at Anna has also |
| sand or quartzite and reduced with heat to pure | | | | posted articles on that site about solar homes. If you |
| silicon. Materials released during refining are the main | | | | would like information about acquiring a solar home |
| health risks. Several steps in forming the photovoltaic | | | | building grant, visit Anna now. |