Thermochemistry is the study of chemical reactions and the heat and energy that are involved in those reactions. Thermochemistry has to do with our usage of lights because the chemical energy is being converted into radiant (light) energy. Photoemitters are metallic objects that give off light.
The reason why we currently use fossil fuels and not photoemitters is because the technology for most photoemitters is not advanced enough to light up the whole world. However, soon it will be. The highest potential photoemitter, to light up New York City, is solar energy. Solar energy is how many calculators function and on the larger scale, how some homes have electrical power---solar panels. The use of solar panels is infrequent because ---they are expensive. However, they are only expensive because there is barely any demand for them, so if there was to be an increased demand for solar panels the price, which now ranges from $500-$15,000 per panel, would be reduced.
Solar energy relies on sunlight because once the light hits panels, it’s converted into electricity. Sunlight will exist until humans cease to exist, so it is an energy source that will never run out. Although there are cloudy days and long nights, there is technology to store the solar energy made and never used---such as batteries. Buildings can also have back-up generators.
Solar panels have to be placed at a certain angle in order to absorb as much sunlight as possible, and during different seasons these angles change. Buildings in New York City typically have a flat roof; however, roofs could have structures on top that are angled which would serve as a base for the panels. These structures would be so motile that they could angle all the way to the left and all the way to the right--- similar to the range of a see-saw. This innovation would guarantee solar panels obtain as much sunlight as possible at all times.
In addition to solar panels, hybrid solar lighting could be used. Hybrid solar lighting are the same idea as panels except the sunlight goes through fiber optic fiber cables. Instead of panels, there are large dishes placed atop a roof. There are also hybrid light fixtures currently in the market place which is how the energy collected on top of the roof would be used inside. Just one collector can create enough power to light eight lamps covering 1000 square feet.
Something that would convince people to change over to solar energy is the fact that it will never run out. Another benefit is the almost non-existent electricity cost. Lastly, panels last 30 years and research is being conducted on how to make longer lasting ones. A bonus to New York City being fully reliant on solar panels is a boom in job opportunities. People would have to create those angled structures, more engineers would have to be hired to produce more panels, and batteries would have to be created to take on a whole city. Studies show that the use of natural light increases “retail sales, reduces energy consumption, and improves employee production and wellness”.
http://www.sd23.bc.ca/~dgrunert/Ch12AP_05.02.03_Answers.pdf
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/photoemitters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effect
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell1.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell6.htm
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