The sun’s heat has long been linked to the earth’s warming and melting.
Now, scientists have identified a way to make solar panels that could power the world’s biggest cities, even in the face of a warming climate.
The sun has long had an influence on the weather in the United States, but the new solar energy can be used to heat cities and cities’ electric grid, according to a new study.
[Image credit: University of Arizona]Solar panels used by solar developers in California could provide up to half of the city’s energy needs, said Mark Smith, a professor of environmental engineering at Arizona State University.
The solar energy could be installed on a grid of power lines and be distributed to the local community, he said.
Solar panels would generate electricity by producing heat and then releasing it back into the air.
If they’re not used to generate electricity, they could instead use that heat to warm homes or businesses, Smith said.
The study found that the average power bill for residential buildings in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego would increase if solar panels were installed.
That would mean more electricity generated, Smith explained.
The researchers used data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which tracks energy consumption in the U, but they also looked at other types of renewable energy like wind, hydro, and geothermal, according a press release from the university.
They calculated that, if all cities across the country were to install solar panels, their combined average energy use would decrease by about 2 percent per year.
The researchers found that, for a typical home, this would reduce the energy needed to heat their home by about 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
“This is a huge step forward for cities that are looking at using renewable energy to generate energy in a sustainable way,” Smith said in a statement.
The findings are being released as the United Nations prepares to announce the first global climate agreement since 1990.
The Paris agreement is expected to include measures to reduce carbon emissions and fight global climate change.
The United States is the world leader in the use of solar panels and other renewable energy sources.