Electricity and heat—two forms of energy that American households and businesses can’t do without. More and more consumers and companies are realizing that we can’t rely on fossil fuels for these necessities and must switch to renewable sources. This program investigates three main ways in which solar energy is used around the world: solar hot water, photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity for small consumers, and thermal arrays that use sunlight to produce electricity in large commercial plants. Viewers will learn about the science involved in each type, the practical challenges of implementing them, and other developments in this exciting and growing area of the renewable energy economy. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (18 minutes)