i joined the debate team. and, it’s my first year. i’m the only freshman on the team. anyways, i have my first debate tomorrow. and it’s about alternative energy. so, my partner and i chose solar energy. can the global warming theory to help back me up? i know the negative team [the people i'm against me] are going to use it against me, because it is only a theory. i want to be able to say that the energy waves that are coming into our atmosphere are warming up our earth. but, why don’t we use it to our advantage, and plant solar panels on our houses, cars, and streets. will this back me up?
i’m the affirmative team.
remember, i’m only a freshman. theres only so much i can understand. :p
also, try not to point out the bad things. i need to prepare myself with the pros. the negative team will get me on the cons.
More Pages:
- Solar Guru: Chances For NYU With My Current Stats? (9/7/2011)
- Solar Energy: The Disadvantages Of Windmills And Disadvantages Of Solar Energy.? (4/8/2012)
- Solar Energy: What Undergraduate Course Should You Take If You Want To Work With And Develop Cutting Edge Technology? (5/17/2012)
- Solar Power: HELP A Struggling Student On Her Science Project !! Solar And Wind Powered Cars ? (5/22/2012)
- Solar Power: What Are Your Thoughts On The Evolution-Creation Science Debate? (4/24/2012)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t think global warming is an effective argument here. If you want to argue for solar energy as a viable power source, I’d start out with talking about how much energy is emitted by the sun (and how much of that energy reaches earth.) Then go on to talk about the efficiency of existing solar cells, and advances that are being made in order to improve this efficiency (titania nanotubes, etc.)
Efficiency is where you’re likely to get killed– current solar cells can only convert a small percentage of the sunlight that hits them, so you really want to be strong on how that number has already been improving and what we can do to improve it further.
First of all, solar panels only work efficiently on bright sunny days, if its overcast or night time forget it. You need batteries to store any electricity you don’t use and also if you need some power on dark days or at night.
Second, the solar panels are extremely expensive and do not last forever, same with the batteries.
Third, global warming has nothing to do with solar energy.
It’s a very minor argument.
The amount of energy we would convert from heat to electricity by solar power collection is too small in proportion to the total energy coming in
to make a meaningful difference.
The better argument is that the solar energy production does
not produce greenhouse gas, and conserves a limited and valuable
resource, fossil fuel.
Be prepared for a counter argument that solar panel production costs
energy. The counter to this argument is that once in place,
the solar power can produce more solar panels without the large
energy cost. (The silicon is already purified and recyclable.)