Sun Related Facts About Solar Energy
- Sunlight travels to the earth in approximately 8 minutes from 93,000,000 miles away, at 186,282 miles per second.
- The sun is also the main source of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, gas and petroleum), which began life as plants or animals whose energy came from the sun millions of year ago.
- Solar energy is responsible for weather patterns and ocean currents.
- Clouds, pollution and wind can prevent the sun’s rays from reaching the earth.
Other Interesting Facts About Solar Energy
- Da Vinci predicted a solar industrialization as far back as 1447.
- In one hour more sunlight energy falls on the earth than what is used by the entire population in one year.
- About 2 billion people in the world are currently without electricity.
- Accounting for only 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world’s energy.
