Why solar?

For us, this solar project is in response to God's love for all of creation (including us).  Every day we experience our interconnectedness to all that God has made, and we feel both grateful and responsible. Having reviewed the mounting scientific evidence (thank you, God, for gifted scientists), we are convinced that climate change is being caused by human activity and that much of that comes from using fossil fuels for the world's energy needs.  We grieve that so many people in the world are already suffering and that ecosystems are shattering as the climate changes.  Yet as Christians we are people of hope - people of death AND resurrection.  We believe God has equipped us to act and, prayerfully, we are taking steps together to respond, praying for the guidance of the Spirit.  We welcome all people of faith or of no faith to join in this work.

Below are some videos, graphs and charts which we find inspiring or helpful.

ARCHIVAL NOTE

ARCHIVAL NOTE:  In the years since we installed our solar array, newer videos have been produced which better describe the current situation of the climate and the economics of solar energy.  We retained this list to show what kinds of resources we included in 2014.

24 Reasons for Hope, The Climate Reality Project, 2014.  Chuckle your way through the short video, then browse the 24 reasons to learn more about signs of hope in the technology, in the public, improvements already happening, and in government.  ARCHIVAL NOTE:  This informational campaign has been removed from their website, but you can still see the videos - listed one hope/video - on youtube.com.

Faith communities responding to climate change - reasons for hope
The website of NC Interfaith Power&Light keeps us informed of collaborative efforts to address climate change and provides great tools for hands-on work and for advocacy.

This video is a litany of quotations from faith traditions and leaders around the world about the charge to the faithful to take care of creation.  Reason for Hope #10:  Faith communities are embracing renewables .

Economic reasons for hope - solar energy
The future of solar power, The Economist, March 10, 2014.  This 3 minute video discusses the growth of solar power in the US and also predicts some future challenges as utilities adjust to distributed power.

Here Comes the Sun: America’s Solar Boom, in Charts, Moyers & Company, November 11, 2014.
If you learn best from clear and vivid graphs and charts, this is the place for you.  You'll learn much about the current status of solar in the US.

Solar Generation Road Trip, Solar Energy Industries Association, December 13, 2010.  Be inspired by the creativity of people across America as they use solar energy.  Hear from businesses, students, football folks, governors, and plain folks.

How does solar photovoltaic power generation work?
How solar works, Sunpower, February 28, 2014.  Here is a very basic explanation of what happens for the whole process from when the sun hits the panel through to monitoring the energy produced. From the company that is manufacturing our solar panels.

Solar energy 101:  how solar panels work, Solar Optimum, July 4, 2012.  Ready for a little more detail?  Here is a basic description of the equipment from a solar panel installer.

Solar energy/ Solar photovoltaics/ Photovoltaic effect, Green Translation Service, Jun 11, 2011.  But what is actually happening at the atomic level to create electricity?  This animation provides a simple explanation so you know.

Making the case for replacing fossil fuels with renewables
Benefits of solar vs. coal, Smart Energy, August 7, 2014.  Trying to grasp the amount of coal waste and CO2 from coal-fired energy plants?  Take a look at this animation short from SmartEnergy, a solar power generating company in California.  In North Carolina, more than a third of our electricity comes from coal.