(WHY CONSIDER USING SOLAR ENERGY?)
Electricity access is a basic prerequisite for satisfying
basic human needs, improving living standards, maintaining good human health,
alleviating poverty and facilitating sustainable development (Tully, 2006).
Indeed, it is our right to have access to clean, cheap,
and sustainable energy. As human beings living in the modern times, electricity
is a necessity. But because of ridiculously expensive power rates, many of us,
especially those who are living in remote areas such as towns or barangays
located in the interior parts of provinces among other factors, do not have
access to electricity. Those who are living in cities and other urban areas are
constantly scratching their heads because of the latest power hikes. The
government is barely doing anything to this problem. . According to an article
written by Harry Roque, “Lack of
electricity denies people equal opportunities in the matter of education and
consequently suitable employment, health, sanitation and other socio-economic
rights. Right to electricity of a person. . .is integral to the achievement of
socio-economic rights. . .It is the fundamental duty of the authorities to show
compassion to those who are living in huts and tenements for long. When social
and economic justice is the mandate of the Constitution, it is a travesty of
justice to deny electricity to the petitioners.”
Power plants are heavily dependent on non-renewable energy
sources (e.g. coal, oil) to produce electricity. According to Dr. Laurie
Johnson, “Burning coal is a very costly way to make electricity. There are more
efficient and sustainable ways to get power,… We can reduce health and climate
change costs while reducing the dangerous carbon pollution driving global
warming” (as cited in Caulfield, 2013). But these sources will soon disappear,
and we will be doomed to a life of darkness because of the lack of electricity.
In order to give people access to cheap, clean and
sustainable energy, today’s scientists discovered new ways to produce
electricity. One of these is solar energy. Solar energy is the technology used
to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces
less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand (NatGeo). Why
consider solar energy as a substitute? The electricity produced can be used to
power communities, it is clean and does little or no harm to the environment,
and reduces bills among many other contributions that it gives to the community.
It is renewable and sustainable. It even powers the satellites that orbits the
earth! This marvellous invention is very helpful indeed. Because of this, more
and more people are being drawn into using solar energy as a substitute to traditional
and non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels). It is environment friendly and
is constantly being improved. This could be very helpful to developing
countries in Asia and other parts of the world such as Africa.
But there are also factors that needs to be considered.
We have to think about the availability of the technology, the cost of the solar
panels (which depends on the brand and manufacturer), its efficiency and
features (such as how much electricity it can generate and the amount of solar
energy it can catch), and the weather and location (there are countries in the
world that gets little sunlight and have long winters).
People ask, “Why even bother with this kind of technology
when not all of us can afford it after all? Why even bother buying solar panels
when it the sun barely shines for ten minutes in my place?” Well, folks, solar
energy is only one among many other renewable
energy sources which are available in the planet. We have wind energy
(which is suitable to windy places) or hydro energy. We are merely looking at
solar energy as a possible substitute to electricity coming from fossil fuels. All
of these are designed to help people gain the right to access to clean, cheap,
and sustainable electricity. But in the end, it is the person’s choice whether
they will use this technology or not.
Kay Noreene P. Dula
2013-68905
BA Psychology
References
Roque, Harry, 2014. Why access to electricity is a
human right. The GMA News Online. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/344464/opinion/why-access-to-electricity-is-a-human-right.
March 4, 2014.
Tully, Stephen, 2006. Access to electricity as a human
right. Netherlands quarterly of human rights. http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/nethqur39&div=46&id=&page=.
March 4, 2014
Caulfield, M, 2013. Renewable Energy Now Cheaper Than Fossil Fuel. EXPOSING The Truth. http://www.exposingthetruth.co/renewable-energy-cheaper/#axzz2vT9HHwD3. March 2, 2014
National Geographic, n. d. Solar Energy. National
Geographic. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/solar-power-profile/.
March 1, 2014
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