Solar energy is an increasingly available resource and technology that both homeowners and businesses are utilizing to cut down on their monthly electricity bills.
Most don’t know that semiconductors are used to create solar energy as well as other forms of sustainable energy in our daily lives. Here is the ultimate guide to semiconductors, how they’re used in solar energy, and how we can take advantage of them to create a more sustainable future.
What Is Solar Energy and How Can You Use It?
Solar energy is becoming a staple in residential and commercial properties because of its cost-effective nature. Solar energy uses sunlight and converts it into electricity so that you don’t have to use electricity from your local utility company. It’s a way to be self-sufficient as well as lower your monthly electricity bill. If you have a new construction home then solar panels might already be installed on your roof. If you have an older pre-owned home, solar panels can be added to your existing roof. There are also local and federal tax credits and incentives that you can take advantage of when adding solar panels to your home, so make sure to ask your solar installer about available programs in your area.
What is a Semiconductor?
Semiconductors are found in everyday items such as computers, cell phones, video games, and clocks. They can be made of various materials such as silicon, and is a substance that allows for electrical current to be created. Semiconductors are sandwiched between a conductor (typically a metal) and an insulator (such as rubber or wood).
How Semiconductors are Used in Solar Energy
Semiconductors are used in solar panels to turn sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Photons from sunlight hit the semiconductors to create electrons. These electrons are the electric current that is used as electricity to power your home or business. Semiconductors can create more electricity with less sunlight versus other renewable energy sources and are durable to sustain outdoor environments in solar panels. The solar energy that semiconductors create is a renewable source that does not emit greenhouse gasses, making it a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuel which is traditionally used to generate electricity around the world.
How Other Semiconductors Can Help You Go Green
Semiconductors are a staple in the solar energy industry, but there are other uses for this technology that can help you become more sustainable. For example, LED bulbs are becoming a common choice for sustainable lighting in houses, offices, and commercial buildings because they use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs are actually semiconductors that emit light when electrical current flows through them. Switching to LED lighting where possible is an easy way you can go green through the use of semiconductors as well as save money on your electricity bill.
There are many applications of semiconductors in daily life as well as a way to make energy more sustainable. Using semiconductors in technologies like solar energy is a way for people to take advantage of its cost-savings as well as a way to become more sustainable in the long run.