The good thing about using this type of solar energy system though is that you will save up to 80% of your total energy cost per year. Calculate Your Energy Cost Once you have a much better understanding and grasp of what solar energy systems are out there, and how they work, you simply need to learn how to calculate the cost of your energy consumption. In order for you to fully understand more about solar and sustainable energy, and what the future holds for it, you need to learn more about the history of solar energy. This article will give you a chance to delve in deeper into solar energy s fascinating history. Historical Role Of Solar Energy One of the more common and more popular roles that the sun, or solar energy, played during those ancient times is that of a force that is able to sustain life based on its ability to give off renewable energy. Longevity A well-maintained solar energy system will last for 30 years if you keep it properly. Other setups may only last for a number of months or weeks at most if external conditions are very harsh or can damage the material easily. You can choose to create your own solar cells or just purchase from a source. At this day and age, there are actually over 200,000 homes that use solar energy technology, 10,000 of which are powered solely by solar energy. And with the introduction of different photovoltaic integrated products, and incorporating them into the construction of your home, or your work place, you can actually save a lot just from the initial cost of construction as compared to building a conventional custom house. Watch the copper very well. You will observe that the colors change as the copper starts to oxidize, and gently transform to black. Let the copper stay on the burner for about 40 minutes or up to the time that a thick coat of oxidized black material turns up. Turn the heat off on the burner, then let the copper cool in the air. Instead, check these different solar energy figures and statistics and see for yourself if whether solar energy is indeed everything that people are claiming it to be. Is Solar Energy Systems Financially Viable? One of the main things that people look at when it comes to alternative sources of energy is whether it is financially viable or not.