It has been the last century's ability to harness and direct
energy that has set it apart from all others. Fossil fuels are
burning diligently across the country to maintain consumer needs.
Unfortunately the end of the supply of these fuels is well within
sight. Industry and individuals alike have almost tapped multiple
natural resources without being able to replace them. But the
days of gas guzzling cars and outrageous electric bills are
numbered. And as we move further into the twenty-first century
engineers are making incredible strides to use the largest source
of energy in our solar system: the sun.
The science and technology behind solar energy is finding it's
way into homes, transportation, power plants, and everyday life.
The practicality and efficiency that can result from solar energy
is obvious. It can propel a car to highway speeds while exhausting
as much energy as a hair dryer. Or it can almost cut some utility
bills in half just by properly positioning windows in the house.
 For
two years a team from the University of Pennsylvania had been
working diligently to create a solar car to qualify in the American
Solar Challenge 2001. The race, which took place in July, was
a rigorous test that took each team from Chicago to California.
Hurdling several difficulties along the way, while navigating
from the Midwest Plains to the Western Deserts with the Rockies
in between, the teams learned a lot about the fragile, and often
temperamental, state of solar engineering.
| UPenn Team Members Included: |
A. Campbell Austin (Team Captain)
Gary Lam
Beney Lee
Robert Reeves |
Tim Hodson
Henry Chan
Chris Hollweg
Dane Carswell
Dan Kelley |
Sara Shaugnessy
Kyle Goldschmidt
Fred Li
Tom Olsen |
Ian Glaser
Calvin DaRosa
Jon Sussman
Chris Li
George Liao |
Dan Fleisher
Dan Marcus
Nick Hooper
Oveida Norris |
| |
 |
 Solar
energy is simply electricity that is produced by the sun. The
suns light travels ninety-three million miles to a solar cell
on earth. These solar cells are shiny, metallic plates like
the ones on top of the University of Pennsylvania's solar car.
Once the light strikes the solar cell a reaction takes place
and "excites" the electrons, which creates energy.
This is a very simplistic definition of how solar energy works,
but it represents the very fundamentals behind it and forces
solar energy to be recognized as a very viable and dependable
resource in the future.
 Solar
energy is not just a unfeasible energy source that only exists
in sci-fi movies and futuristic looking cars. It can also be
applied to homes everywhere as a alternative form of energy
that benefits both the environment and the wallet. Where windows
are placed in the house and what type of insulation is used
can both have an amazing impact on the overall energy efficiency
in a household. These present major considerations that should
be incorporated into a home and also challenge builders to create
houses that fall outside of the "cookie-cutter" style
that is littered throughout the suburban sprawl.
 Besides
all of the wonderful advancements that solar energy can aid
it also has one more encouraging after effect. There is no clean
up! Absolutely no filthy residue or danger of spillage. There
are no lingering piles of waste by-product that lay dormant
and hearken back to a energy source that is long since gone.
There will be no excess sunlight that pollutes the Bering Strait
and kills innumerable wildlife. There will no longer be any
rancid smells from the exhaust pipes of the bus ahead of you
or electric bills that will force you to mortgage your house.
The future of energy is looking bright, safe, clean, and cheap
and it is coming from a source that does not need to be dug
or drilled for, but one that has stared us in the face every
day since the beginning of humankind.
Formula
Sun Group of Events
 American
Solar Challenge
From July 15th to 25th, 2001 , 2300 miles of solar racing
challenged teams from around the world. High tech and high
efficiency solar cars crossed the Great Plains, climbed the
Rocky Mountains, and dashed over the Great American Desert
to the finish line in Southern California.
Solar
Express
This solar bike road-race combines solar power, human
power, and ingenuity. The 2001 Solar Express is a 600 km race
from Topeka, Kansas to Jefferson City, MO.
Formula
Sun Grand Prix
FSGP is a closed-course solar car race. There will be
two competitions in 2001: a race in Kansas in May and a race
in Michigan in July.
Solar
Bike Race
An annual international closed-course solar bike race
held in the heartland of America. SBR2001 will be held May
11-13, 2001, and is the qualifying event for Solar Express.
The
American Solar Challenge (ASC) Solar Scout
A volunteer program enables youth of all ages to support
the ASC solar car race by learning about solar power, energy
efficiency, and renewable energy. For their participation,
kids earn a "Solar Scout" badge, which is a bright
and colorful tribute to solar car racing and historic Route
66!
The
University of Pennsylvania Solar Racing Team
 Winston
Solar Challenge
The Winston Solar Challenge project is an international education
program designed to teach high school students the physics
and technology associated with a road worthy solar car. Its
objective is to encourage student interest in science, engineering
and solar technology. Emphasis is placed on the sharing of
knowledge and the developing of new friendships rather than
on the intensity of competition.
Stanford
Solar Car Project
Link for teams around the world, suppliers (tires, batteries,
engines, brakes, etc.), books, races, solar power, electric
vehicles, solar boats, solar bicycles, alternative energy,
and others.
Building
a model solar car
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
World Solar
Challenge
With the only the sun for power some of the best engineered
solar cars make there way across the Australian Outback.
U.S.
Department of Energy/ Office of Science
A 2,300 mile solar car journey that goes from Chicago to California
following historic Route 66.
Energy
Coordinating Agency
ECA is dedicated to making residential energy use safe, affordable
and environmentally friendly. ECA assists over 28,000 families
annually with weatherization, conservation, utility bills
and energy related home repairs.
Clean
Air Council
The Clean Air Council protects air quality by promoting waste
reduction and recycling, sustainable transportation, clean
energy, and better indoor air quality.
Solar
Host
The world's first and only Internet company that is totally
powered by renewable energy.
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