01 Sep How to Incorporate Solar in Your Curriculum as a Teacher

COVID has created a whole new normal, especially for your children. Not only were they pulled out of school early this year, but they also may or may not be going back to school this fall. If you are a teacher, at Vision Solar we know creating a curriculum for your students is beyond stressful without seeing them in person. Because of this, we think solar energy is a great science lesson. Photovoltaic energy is the heart and soul of solar energy. By understanding this, your students can be more educated on the energy that is now powering their home.

What Are Photovoltaic Cells?

Solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, are the most important components of your panels. PV cells are made with several types of materials, such as monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and thin film. They are manufactured with a positive and negative layer to mimic the electric field of a battery. This allows PV cells to serve as semiconductors that capture the photons from sunlight and transform them into direct current (DC) electricity. In short, the more solar panels in a system, the more power it generates.

What is Photovoltaic Energy?

Photovoltaic energy is a clean, renewable source of energy. This particular type of energy uses solar radiation to produce electricity. The way that photovoltaic energy is created and absorbed is through the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect allows for certain materials to absorb photons and release electrons, which in return creates an electric current.

The Positives of Photovoltaic Energy

There are so many positives that come from photovoltaic energy. The first positive is the lack of emissions that are released into the atmosphere. There are no emissions released, allowing for a clean source of energy. With this, this clean source of energy comes straight from our earth’s power source, the sun. What this means is that as long as the sun is shining high in the sky, your home is being powered by renewable energy. The solar power that stems from photovoltaic energy has the power to save you money on your monthly electric bill. Customers on average save 20% on their monthly electric bill. What this means is that you are optimizing the sun’s power without harming the earth, all while putting more money in your pocket. Photovoltaic energy continues to become more and more advanced in order to help us all navigate through this crazy thing called life.