Image created by P. Stinson on the Sun Day website.
By Pat Stinson
REGION – Today, Sept. 21, is Sun Day, with more than 450 events taking place across the globe to raise awareness about the benefits of solar energy.
Solar power is called the “world’s cheapest form of energy, with costs declining nearly 90% in the last 15 years,” according to a New York Times Sept. 20 story, “Here Comes the Sun Day,” written by Sachi Kitajima Mulkey.
Suttons Bay Sun Day event
In Suttons Bay in Leelanau County, a documentary called “The Light Won’t Dim” will be shown from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today at The Bay Theatre, 214 N. Joseph St. The film follows the rewards and challenges faced by communities as they seek to switch to solar power and offers perspectives by U.S. leaders in the renewable-energy movement.
Leelanau Energy, the event’s sponsor, is a community-based nonprofit organization with a stated mission of powering the county 100% with renewable energy. The organization will offer fact sheets about solar power, energy efficiency and conservation. Area libraries and schools have also been invited to exhibit their renewable energy-related materials.
Byron Center Sun Day event
The U.S. headquarters of World Renew in Bryon Center, south of Grand Rapids, will be the site of Sun Day activities taking place today at 8970 Byron Commerce Drive SW. Sponsors are Solar Faithful, Third Act Faith Affinity Working Group, World Renew and the Creation Care Teams of St Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Church of the Servant.
The public is invited to participate in the afternoon’s “food … conversation, art, learning, music and celebration.”
Origin of Sun Day
Sun Day was founded by Bill McKibben, a U.S. journalist, activist and author, who frequently writes and speaks about climate change and what humans can do to reduce their impact on global warming. A worldwide coalition of grassroots organizations are participating in educational and awareness-raising activities.
Solar power is one tool used to produce cleaner, renewable energy. Science tells us that human-produced carbon dioxide emissions — such as from gas-powered vehicles, coal-fired power plants, and traditional farming practices — lead to an imbalance in gases found in Earth’s atmosphere. According to NASA’s science page, “What is the Greenhouse Effect?”, when these gases are in balance, they warm the planet by trapping just enough heat from the sun to maintain life. An increase in carbon dioxide results in more gas and more trapped surface heat, leading to an increase in global temperatures.
Read more about solar power in “Falling Water, Shining Sun.”
