How Do Humans Use It
Hot Water
Solar rooftop collectors use heat gathered from sunlight for hot water and building heat. These solar installations do not convert light into electricity; they use the sun’s heat to increase the temperature of water or another fluid flowing through pipes in the collector. The building then uses the hot water for swimming pools, showers, laundry and other applications. In many cases, the heating system has a traditional gas or electric utility connection that heats the water in case of prolonged cold temperatures or cloudy weather.
Satellites
In space, without clouds or air to reduce sunlight, 1,300 watts of energy per square meter arrives from the sun. Satellites use solar cells to convert sunlight into electrical energy, powering sophisticated on-board radio and computer equipment and affecting your daily life through satellite radio, television and weather forecasting. Because they are expensive to launch, operate hundreds of miles above the Earth, and are very difficult to maintain, satellites need a reliable source of power, and photovoltaic cells provide it for up to 20 years.
Calculators
Some desktop and pocket calculators have miniature solar panels built into them, providing energy to run the electronics inside. The solar panel runs on both sunlight and artificial lighting, such as incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Solar-powered calculators typically have a “button” battery in addition to the solar panel, allowing their use in dimly-lit room