Sun Day Date in the current year: May 3, 2024

Sun Day was initiated by Denis Hayes, American environmental advocate and proponent of solar power. He rose to prominence as the coordinator for the first Earth Day that was held on April 22, 1970. During the Carter Administration, Hayes was head of the Solar Energy Research Institute and came up with the idea of observing Sun Day modeled on Earth Day. President Carter officially established Sun Day in 1978 and in 1994 the observance became international.

Sun Day was created to promote solar power. The term “solar power” refers to the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity. One of its main benefits is that it doesn't lead to any harmful emissions during operation. Modern solar power plants use one of two technologies, either photovitalic systems or concentrated solar power.

Sun Day also serves to remind us that the Sun is vital for the life on Earth. Without its light and heat, our planet would be ice-cold and lifeless. The Sun stirs the atmosphere and generates weather patterns, warms the seas and oceans. Besides, sunlight is essential for photosynthesis that is largely responsible for maintaining the oxygen content in the atmosphere.