Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source that has been around for decades. While its availability is now widespread, it has yet to catch on to mainstream home and business building. While you may not yet see solar panels on roofs in abundance, the world is evolving and one day every home and business will be equipped to harness the power of solar energy. As solar energy changes the world, how has solar energy already changed society in general, and how does it impact the future?

1. Teaching Aid

As the call for renewable energy sources grows, the solar power system is the perfect example of how easy it is to depart from fossil fuels. One small solar panel can demonstrate how energy from the sun can power a single device, such as a lamp or charge a phone.

The United States government is providing more funding for national solar training programs so the use of solar energy can become more widespread. Solar energy has taught scientists that 100 percent clean energy is achievable and can be made available to anyone in any location.

2. Off-Grid

You've heard of off-grid, but you may not be sure what it means. Off-grid means a structure is completely free of the electricity generated by a power plant or provided by a municipality. An off-grid home runs solely on solar and other natural resources.

As the population continues to grow outward and impede on nature, more people are attracted to the off-grid lifestyle. It allows nature-lovers to create a home free of power lines and underground cables and sewer lines. This means less intrusion on the environment.

3. Exploration

The availability of solar energy also allows for more comfortable exploration. When people travel beyond the range of power in remote locations, solar energy allows them the ability to still charge their equipment and devices.

Solar energy doesn't just provide for accessibility on the ground. It can also be used by agencies such as NASA for space exploration.

4. Cleaner Air

While in most parts of the United States, solar energy has had little impact on air quality, that will soon change in California where all new builds are required to be equipped with solar power. In areas that are densely populated along the Pacific Ocean, the impact will be enormous.

California is leading the nation in clean energy usage, as they also have more stringent requirements for emissions that are released by automobiles. In the next couple of decades, California could go from ranking as one of the most polluted states to the cleanest, due in part to solar energy.

5. A Future

Solar energy is ensuring there's a viable future for generations to come. If humans were to continue using fossil fuels at their current rate, the impacts to the planet would be devastating.  When solar energy usage becomes more common than fossil fuel usage, greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere will be greatly reduced, and as will global warming.

If you could snap your finger and have solar power today, would you do it? A large majority of people would. It seems that the main hindrance is investment, yet what people don't realize is that solar panel installation is less costly than using power provided by their municipalities in as little as seven years. Once the investment has paid for itself, any future energy usage is free energy usage.

Solar energy is transforming the way people view energy. They have learned the dangers presented by earth's non-renewable resources. And while these resources are contributors to pollution, they will also someday all be gone. Solar power, on the other hand, is available forever.