Solar energy as an alternative energy in our new house we are planning to build? Or so I thought. As my husband and I start the process of building a new home, I thought to myself, "Why not check into solar energy?"

Thus began my search for information on my trusty laptop. First, I learned that there is more than one method to harnessing solar energy. Photovoltaic solar energy uses solar panels to absorb sunlight and then through a conversion process, changes that sunlight into useable electricity. Photovoltaic solar energy is actually used on many small items today such as calculators and outdoor lights.

Indirect (or passive) solar heating is also another method of harnessing the sunlight. This process involves using special windows that transfer and holds heat inside the home. For this process to be effective insulation and air-tight construction of your home is a must. Indirect solar heating is the cheapest and least time consuming of all the solar energy processes.

Active solar energy is again a conversion of the sunlight through the use of glass or solar panels to warm air and water in your home. It is then distributed throughout the home with fans and pumps.

Well, all this sounds good and promising, but what are some advantages to solar energy? Actually, the advantages could be endless, but here are some. Solar energy harnessing causes no pollution, either noise or environmental.

Have you been outside lately? The sun rises and sets EVERY day, therefore it will never run out. Big advantage there.

I don't know about you, but when we have bad storms and the electricity goes out, guess what comes out. Candles. And we don't open the refrigerator and freezer unless absolutely necessary, because we don't know how long the electricity will be off, and we don't want that food to spoil. No tv, radio, or even our cordless telephone doesn't work. With solar energy that would no longer be a problem. Won't the teenagers be glad about that???

Finally, have you really looked at your utility bills lately? They just keep getting higher and higher. Most families I know live on budgets and higher utilities means less money in their budgets for other things. Over the long term solar energy harnessing will reduce our current energy costs.

Wow! Lots of advantages for using solar energy in our new home. We definitely could incorporate the special windows. And hot water heated by the sun, that sounds fantastic. What about the solar panels that we would need to convert the sunlight into electricity that could be useable to run our heat system and appliances? This is where I was in for a shock. To have a system that would be large enough to power the average size family home would cost between $20, 000 and upwards, even as much as $40, 000. AGH!!! I don't know about everyone else, but that's not happening. I guess we will be sticking with the windows and hot water plans, but no solar panels for now.

My final comment is that if people are to seek to implement alternative energies into their homes, the price to do so will have to come way down for the average joe to be able to do so. And soon because we may already be too late to save the earth. Also, don't forget to educate yourself.