Does teaching kids about solar energy have to be as complicated as algebra? The answer is no! Toss that calculator away and ease your migraines right now! Solar is as simple as can be and learning more about how the sun can bring energy efficiency to your home is mutually beneficial. It’s time to educate your youngsters, from the goobers who toddle around under LED lights to teens who access streaming services in your home. Learning about solar can benefit the whole family!
Running on Sunshine!
Every day, power sustainability is becoming more and more uncertain. Don’t leave your family in the dark, wondering what happens when the lights go out. Education has left the classrooms and landed smack-dab in your home. If you have solar panels running your home, why not teach the kids about where their electricity is coming from? It’s time the kiddos learned about the clean, renewable energy that solar energy can produce.
Whether you’re a longtime solar advocate or just a mom seeking protection from the uncertainty of power outages in your area, get on board with teaching your kids about solar energy now rather than later. Your kids are the future leaders of the world and alternative energy is on track to becoming more popular every day. They could implement the tools you’ve taught them about renewable energy to create a cleaner, more sustainable planet.
Here are some helpful tips to get the ball rolling!
Learn the Basics of Solar Energy
Teaching kids about solar energy doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. That big ball of fire has been churning out energy for billions of years. The sun is instrumental in many of the Earth’s processes, including photosynthesis. It’s no wonder that the environmentally-friendly brainiacs decided to harness solar energy to power homes across the globe. Let’s answer some of the major questions your kids might ask.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
It all begins with the sun! Solar panels work when sunlight hits those sleek solar cells on your roof. A beam of sunlight transmits photons to the cells of your solar panel. Photons are these super tiny light particles that pack a big punch of electromagnetic energy. When the photons interact with the electrons (tiny particles that carry electricity) of the panels, they jumpstart an electrical current. Through this electrical current, electricity is produced and your home has access to solar energy in excess. Speaking of an energy-overflow, that actually brings us to another question.
How Many Solar Panels Does It Take to Run Your Home?
This is a great question to answer for you and your little one. Did you know that one hour of sunshine could power the entire world for a whole year? Yes, it’s true! Solar panels have the capacity to generate clean, renewable energy in surplus.
But as far as how many solar panels it would take to power your home, results may vary. The truth is that when the big bad sun is powering your home, the amount of solar panels that your home needs will depend largely on the amount of energy your home uses, the kind of roof you have, the size of your solar system, and a host of other factors.
For additional information about solar energy, the U.S. Energy Information Administration offers a great resource called Energy Kids for teaching kids about solar energy and other forms of power.
The Importance of Teaching Kids About Solar Energy
Kids are our future, so the education we provide for them today will impact the world as we know it. Solar is slowly taking over as one of the most sustainable sources of renewable energy. Whether you live in one of the sunniest cities in the U.S. or not, our planet reaps the benefits of an abundance of sunshine! We’d be remiss if we didn’t use it to produce energy. The introduction of solar panels to your home will open doors for your child’s imagination and free up some room in your budget.
Solar Energy for All Ages
On the photon side, solar energy is just pretty cool to learn about. Let’s take a peek at all the great things you can teach your older kids about solar energy:
- A Reduced Carbon Footprint
- A Reduced Reliance on the Power Grid
- A Reduced Monthly Utility Bill
A Reduced Carbon Footprint
There are so many benefits of solar energy to the environment. In fact, solar panels are usually a major draw for folks who are concerned about the impact of their energy consumption. Solar energy is an alternative that limits the amount of air and water pollution.
When teaching your kids about solar energy, drive home the limitless availability of sunlight. It’s important for the future generation to understand the impact we have on the environment and how widespread use of renewable energy could generate reliable power.
A Reduced Reliance on the Power Grid
What is a power grid? A power grid, or electrical grid, is where your home receives its electricity. The houses in your neighborhood are all connected to a system (a grid) that delivers power to each home from an electrical company.
In the 21st century, power outages are too common and too devastating to happen. They are the result of an overworked grid paired with unpredictable climate changes. When combined with a sturdy solar panel battery backup, embrace the ease from worrying about losing power. “What is a solar panel battery?” you ask. Only a chance to pump reliable power into your home in the event of a blackout. It’s time to show your kids the safety a solar panel battery can bring to your home solar system.
A Reduced Monthly Utility Bill
As a parent, you’ll love the fact that solar energy saves you on your electric bill, but the financial advantages of solar are also great learning tools for your kids, no matter what age they are. In addition to all of the solar incentives and rebates homeowners can take advantage of, solar will dice up your energy bill like no other. A lower utility bill is one of the most attractive aspects of going solar. Many states offer net metering programs that allow you to roll excess energy back to your electric company. Solar does a great job of saving your family money. Teaching kids about solar energy should go hand-in-hand with teaching kids about budgeting.
Lead by Example: Make the Switch to Solar
The best way to teach your kids about solar energy is to install a few solar panels on your roof. A new solar system is a great way to apply the learning done in the classrooms to your home. When those young eyes see the electricity generated from a set of solar panels on your home, the inspiration is endless. In the meantime, check out some little known facts about solar energy and learn how solar savings are a benefit that the whole family can enjoy.
