“When there’s a huge solar energy spill, it’s just called a ‘nice day’.” – Murwillumbah Public School students James Loffs, Ayla Baartz, Tristan Fisher, and Mahli Johnson

Messages from the Edge Mid-December 2024

To review, as your EcoDharma Doula, I will offer you a monthly contemplation on what is commonly called ‘Getting to Zero.’ Science tells us we have 25 years to reduce our emissions to Zero. We are looking at a carbon reduction diet, which begins by looking at the big picture. We wish to turn the right side to Zero by 2050 or:

(Lighting + Heating + Cooling + cooking + driving + refrigeration + embodied energy + heating water + utilities + gardening + vampire energy) – (Clean Energy we Produce or Offset) = (Everything we Use)

This mid-month, we will examine a different perspective on the Great Eastern Sun and the Basic Goodness of our freely available sunlight. Simply burning less carbon will not allow us to balance our energy books with Mother Nature. We need to cleanly produce the remaining energy we use no matter how minimal that may be.

Sunlight is a miracle. A photon that reaches your rooftop begins its journey deep within the core of the Sun, where nuclear fusion transforms hydrogen into helium, releasing immense energy. This photon first spends thousands to millions of years trapped in the Sun’s dense interior, bouncing between atoms in a chaotic, radiative journey to the surface. Once it escapes into space, it races across the vacuum at the speed of light, covering the 93-million-mile (150-million-kilometer) trip to Earth in just over 8 minutes. After traveling this geologic and astronomical timescale, the photon reaches your rooftop, which might warm a surface, energize a solar panel, or dissipate heat. This tiny packet of energy has bridged eons and distances that span the cosmos, ultimately delivering its gift of life-sustaining energy to our planet.

“Look at the sun. The sun is shining. Nobody polishes the sun. The sun just shines. Look at the moon, the sky, the world at its best. Unfortunately, we human beings try to fit everything into conditionality. We try to make something out of nothing. We have messed everything up. That’s our problem. We have to go back to the sun and the moon, to dragons, tigers, lions, garudas (mythical birds). We can be like the blue sky, sweethearts, and the clouds so clean, so beautiful. We don’t have to try too hard to find ourselves. We haven’t really lost anything; we just have to tune in. The majesty of the world is always there.”  ― Chögyam Trungpa, Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are essentially stored ancient sunlight captured over hundreds of millions of years. The process begins with photosynthesis, where plants and microorganisms convert sunlight into chemical energy, creating organic matter. During the Carboniferous Period, around 300 million years ago, vast swampy forests and marine ecosystems flourished, trapping immense amounts of this solar energy. As these organisms died, their remains were buried under layers of sediment, where heat and pressure over geological timescales transformed them into coal, oil, and gas. This ancient sunlight, concentrated over millions of years, is now powering much of modern civilization. When we burn fossil fuels, we release the energy captured by sunlight long ago and the carbon stored within, reconnecting us to a geologic cycle that unfolds over epochs rather than human lifetimes.

A remarkable truth about Earth’s energy systems is that nearly all forms of renewable energy—and even nuclear energy—are derived indirectly from sunlight. The Sun drives wind patterns by heating Earth’s surface unevenly, creating the atmospheric currents we harness with turbines. Sunlight powers the water cycle, evaporating water that later falls as precipitation to replenish rivers and reservoirs, fueling hydroelectric plants. Similarly, tidal forces rely on gravitational interactions between the Sun, Earth, and Moon, sustained within a system energized by the Sun’s immense gravitational pull. Even fossil fuels are stored solar energy from ancient ecosystems. While nuclear energy may seem separate, it too connects to the Sun’s role in stellar nucleosynthesis, which forged the uranium atoms in Earth’s crust billions of years ago. This interconnectedness reminds us that sunlight is not just a source of energy but the foundation of life and power on our planet. Combustion side products raise the Earth’s temperature cascading into climate suffering.

Today, we can harness sunlight almost instantly using solar panels on our rooftops, converting photons into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. When a photon strikes a solar cell—typically made of semiconducting materials like silicon—it transfers its energy to electrons, knocking them loose from their atomic bonds. This capture creates the material’s free electrons and holes (positive charge carriers). The solar cell’s internal electric field directs these free electrons toward a conductive layer, generating an electric current. This current flows through wires to power homes, charge batteries, or feed into the grid. In this way, sunlight is transformed into usable electricity in moments, bypassing the millions of years once required to store solar energy as fossil fuels.

In a perfect world, where conditions are ideal—clear skies, direct sunlight, and highly efficient solar technology—a square yard of rooftop could harness approximately 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity daily. This estimate is based on the average solar energy received at Earth’s surface, roughly 1,000 watts per square meter (about 836 watts per square yard) under peak conditions. With cutting-edge solar panels achieving efficiencies of around 25%, this square yard could generate up to 200 watts of electricity at peak sunlight. Over the course of a sunny day, this translates to roughly 1 kWh, enough to power a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, demonstrating the immense potential of rooftop solar to transform sunlight into clean, usable energy.

“Every time you turn on a light bulb or get in a car, you are making decisions about what kind of world you want to live in.” – Bill McKibben

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy can be visualized through everyday equivalents, helping to bring its value into focus:

1. Burning Matches: One kWh is roughly equivalent to the energy of burning 1,000 kitchen matches.
2. Illuminating Light Bulbs: A standard 100-watt incandescent light bulb could stay lit for 10 hours, while an energy-efficient 10-watt LED bulb could stay lit for 100 hours.
3. Microwave Minutes: A typical microwave oven uses about 1,000 watts of high power, so one kWh could provide 60 minutes of microwave cooking.
4. Dryer Loads: A clothes dryer typically uses 3–5 kWh per load, so one kWh is about one-third to one-fifth of a dryer cycle.
5. Heating Water: To heat one gallon of water from 60°F to boiling (212°F) requires about 0.15 kWh. Therefore, one kWh could heat roughly 6.5 gallons of water.

To power the average home in the developed world using rooftop solar, we can calculate based on typical energy consumption and the energy produced per square yard of rooftop solar.

1. Average Household Energy Use:
   • In the developed world, a household typically consumes around 900–1,000 kWh per month or approximately 30–33 kWh per day.
2. Solar Energy Production per Square Yard:
   • A well-positioned square yard of rooftop solar can generate about 1 kWh daily under ideal conditions.
3. Rooftop Area Needed:
   • Producing 30–33 kWh would require approximately 30–35 square yards of rooftop solar.
4. Practical Considerations:
   • This calculation assumes optimal conditions, including peak sunlight hours, high-efficiency solar panels, and minimal shading. In practice, homes may require more rooftop space due to factors like less efficient panels or geographic variations in sunlight availability.

Thus, an average home in the developed world might need a rooftop solar installation covering about 270–315 square feet (30–35 square yards) to meet its daily electricity needs. Think of three ten-by-ten rooms.

Installing rooftop solar panels on an average home in the developed world can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting the electricity that fossil fuel power plants would otherwise generate. On average, each kilowatt-hour of electricity from fossil fuels emits around 0.5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) of CO₂. A solar-equipped home generating 30 kWh per day avoids emitting approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of CO₂ daily, totaling about 5,475 kilograms (12,067 pounds) annually. This reduction is equivalent to taking a gasoline-powered car off the road for about 12,500 miles or planting over 90 trees. By switching to solar, homeowners lower their electricity bills and contribute to a substantial decrease in their carbon footprint, helping to combat climate change.

That 15 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per day is comparable to the average carbon footprint of household energy use in many developed countries. Here‘s the context:

• Average Household Carbon Footprint: In developed countries, the energy-related carbon footprint for an average household is typically between 4,500–6,000 kilograms (10,000–13,200 pounds) of CO₂ annually. This amount equates to approximately 12–16 kilograms (26–35 pounds) of CO₂ emissions per day.
• Solar Offset: A rooftop solar system generating 30 kWh daily would offset about 15 kilograms of CO₂ daily, closely matching the average household’s energy-related carbon emissions.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

Rooftop solar, whether installed directly on individual homes or as part of a community solar garden, offers a practical and impactful way to offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with household energy use. A typical household in the developed world consumes around 30 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity daily, resulting in approximately 15 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. These emissions can be virtually eliminated by generating this energy from solar power, effectively bringing a household’s electricity-related carbon footprint to zero. Whether installed on rooftops or shared in a community solar garden, this technology democratizes access to clean energy, offering a scalable solution to climate change.

The feasibility of solar is further supported by its declining costs, increased efficiency, and ability to harness an inexhaustible energy source: the Sun. Solar panels can generate electricity for decades with minimal maintenance and no fuel costs, providing household energy security and cost savings. For those unable to install panels on their roofs—due to shading, structural issues, or renting—community solar gardens offer an inclusive alternative, allowing residents to subscribe to clean energy and benefit from the identical GHG reductions.

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy – sun, wind and tide. … I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” – Thomas Edison

The question is why we wouldn’t universally adopt this proven solution. The barriers often cited—upfront costs, policy hurdles, or lack of awareness—are increasingly surmountable with supportive government incentives, innovative financing models, and community education. The urgency of addressing climate change and the tangible benefits of solar makes inaction harder to justify. Transitioning to rooftop or community solar is an environmental imperative and an economic and social opportunity to create a sustainable future for everyone. Why wouldn’t we seize it?

Community installations provide a path to drastically reduce these emissions while decentralizing energy production and making it more resilient. Unlike finite fossil fuels, sunlight will not run out, and its collection involves no air or water pollution, mining, or drilling.

“The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.” – Ralph Nader

The argument for embracing solar extends beyond environmental benefits to economic and social ones. Solar technologies are becoming increasingly affordable and efficient, creating opportunities for economic development and energy independence. Jobs in the solar sector, from manufacturing to installation, outpace those in traditional energy industries while communities gain control over their energy futures. Furthermore, solar energy empowers individuals and communities by reducing dependence on centralized grids and offering access to power in remote or underserved regions.

Yet, what makes the case for solar truly unassailable is its alignment with natural systems and a long-term vision for humanity’s coexistence with the planet. The Sun is life-giving and sustaining—its energy has powered ecosystems for billions of years. Tapping into this renewable source is not just a technological choice but a commitment to live in harmony with the Earth’s rhythms. As stewards of this planet, it seem almost morally obligated to embrace the abundant photons raining down on us daily and use them to power a cleaner, more equitable world.

“The sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky.” – Hafez

The question isn’t whether we have the means to harness solar energy but the collective will to fully embrace it. The photons are already here; the next move is ours.

Visualizing one metric ton of CO₂ as a large cube or sphere offers a stark reminder of the immense scale of greenhouse gas emissions. Every day, the average household in the developed world produces nearly 15 kilograms of CO₂ from electricity use alone—equivalent to about one metric ton every two months. Over a year, this adds up to roughly six metric tons of CO₂ per household, just from energy consumption, which can be visualized as six massive CO₂ volumes floating above a single home.

Rooftop solar panels or community solar gardens have the potential to offset this annual carbon output completely for each household. By harnessing sunlight, an abundant, renewable resource, we can generate enough clean energy to power homes without emitting greenhouse gases. This photon capture is a tangible, actionable way to dramatically reduce emissions on a household level, scaling up to entire neighborhoods, cities, and beyond.

When visualized against the enormity of a single metric ton of CO₂, the case for widespread adoption of solar energy becomes undeniably compelling. Why wouldn‘t we act to replace these looming emissions with clean, renewable solutions, particularly when they are increasingly cost-effective, scalable, and accessible? The challenge is not technological but motivational, requiring collective will to harness the abundant photons hitting our Earth‘s surface daily. The visualization serves as a call to action—each ton avoided is a step toward a livable, sustainable future.

Heaven, earth, and humanity can be seen literally as the sky above, the earth below, and human beings standing or sitting between the two. – Chögyam Trungpa, . Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

Photons are a powerful reminder that we can act on climate solutions with resources already at our fingertips. Every day, wherever we are, the Sun delivers an abundant, renewable energy source freely to our rooftops and communities. By harnessing these photons through solar power, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, power our homes sustainably, and contribute to a healthier planet. The solutions we seek are already within reach, inviting us to do what we can, where we are, with what we have—starting with the sunlight above us.

And remember:

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” ~ Teddy Roosevelt