Solar Power for Commercial Use

Solar power is created when either the sun's warmth or its radiation is captured and converted into usable energy. Solar power is considered an economical supplement to traditional power sources, in both homes and commercial businesses.

Types

• The two types of solar energy are thermal and photovoltaic. Thermal uses the sun's warmth to heat fluids such as water or antifreeze mixtures. Photovoltaic turns the sun's radiation into electricity.

Applications

• Solar panels can be mounted onto the flat tar roofs of commercial buildings, where they can use the sun's energy to warm the building. Thermal heating systems are used to heat water for commercial applications from warm water for motel showers to hot water for car washes. Farms use solar energy to warm greenhouses and power electric fencing.

Benefits

• Many businesses report decreased energy costs when solar energy is used to supplement or replace traditional energy sources. Solar tiles, panels and awnings also reduce greenhouse gases and provide shade while harvesting solar energy. Including solar energy is common in green building design, and many solar products can be retrofitted onto existing structures.