There is a great deal of myth about nuclear energy. The fact is people are scared of nuclear power because people are not educated about the true benefits. The world community uses nuclear power and for good reasons. It is emissions free, reliable, and very cheap. It will lower our dependence on foreign energy and create a whole new job market. The likelihood of nuclear meltdown is minimal and with current design, it is even safer than ever. Nuclear Energy is going to the future and we as Americans need to educate ourselves and embrace it.

Most people don’t know that nuclear power already makes up 19% of our national power grid according to the American Nuclear Society. The problem is that our electrical demand is rising due to recent innovations in computer technology. The truth is that the chance of meltdown is so distant most serious scientists discount it. There hasn’t been one in 20 years, thanks to increased safety measures and better technology. However they do not discount the waste product. Any energy industry has a byproduct. Whether it is green house gases from coal or oil plants, or flooding from hydro electric plants, there will always be a downside to even the cleanest forms of power generation. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, “In 2004, U.S. nuclear power plants prevented 3.43 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 1.11 million tons of nitrogen oxide, and 696.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere”. It’s better to create a repository in an isolated mountain in the desert than to burn a hole in our ozone layer with green house emissions. Many leading environmentalists back nuclear power such as Stewart Brand, Patrick Moore, and James Lovelock.

The jobs created will have an effect on the American economy. With more professionals in the work force, unemployment rates will drop. But the cost to maintain the nuclear plant drops the overall energy production cost. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, “The average electricity production cost in 2004 for nuclear energy was 1.68 cents per kilowatt-hour, for coal-fired plants 1.90 cents, for oil 5.39 cents, and for gas 5.87 cents.” Though the cost of safety regulation and oversight are substantial, it is still the cheapest source of energy. This also removes much of the foreign dependence on energy and drops our utility bills. That is very important because it’s saving Americans hard earned dollars. Particularly in California, saving money is crucial. The cost of living is skyrocketing and especially younger couples and adults who have children in college don’t have the extra money to burn on utilities and gas.

As our dependence on electricity increases, so do the political debates of where it will come from. From the economic and social standpoints, nuclear power is bullet proof. The positive effects of nuclear power are huge or it wouldn’t even be a consideration. New jobs, cheaper energy, lower dependence on foreign sources, and almost no pollution. If you’re thinking it sounds too good to be true, well there is a downside and it is the focus of a much heated debate. Yucca Mountain is going to be an absolute top of the line site with no expense spared. It will be organized, monitored, and regulated. People with an agenda will paint any picture to inspire fear of the unknown. These groups are preying on ignorance and if they have a better solution, they should come out with it.

Nuclear power is safe, clean and efficient. If people have questions, then they need to educate themselves before making rash judgments. I’ve never read any opponents of nuclear power concede anything good about nuclear power. But those groups have no hang-ups about enjoying the benefits. The bottom line is that we need to lower our dependence on foreign energy sources to become fiscally independent. America needs to get real about nuclear power and embrace the future of emissions free energy for the 21st century.

To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.

The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.

The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental. With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming.

Solar energy panels have become more affordable in recent years making it a viable alternative energy option for savvy home owners looking for savings on their monthly utility bills and the environmentally conscious who also enjoy the financial advantage, but focus more on the benefits solar energy panels have on global warming and independence from fossil fuels.

If you are a beginner to the solar electric world, then you may be wondering what exactly solar energy panels are? It is really simple and yet fascinatingly complicated. Solar energy panels are also known as photovoltaic panels; photovoltaic meaning electricity from the sun. Solar energy panels work by collecting protons from the sun, which displace neutrons, and create a flow of electrons or electricity. An inverter converts the power generated by the solar energy panels from an AC current to a DC current making it usable in homes as a direct electricity supply.

You can use solar energy panels to heat your pool, workshop tools, greenhouse lights and fans or depending on you personal electric usage, your entire home or business. Most solar energy panels are designed to last 30-40 years and require little to no maintenance. Over the life-span of solar energy panels, the energy savings realized by the owner is enough to justify the initial cost of the system and prices are dropping more and more as a larger number of consumers express interest and make the change to solar energy panels or other renewable resources.

Solar energy panels for small applications can be purchased at your local hardware stores. These small versions are ideal for outdoor lighting, small water pumps and other outdoor tools. If you are purchasing a home size or business size system of solar energy panels it would be best to seek out a local retailer of solar energy panels or a green energy retailer in your area. There is also plenty of information available online about different solar energy panel providers.