Global warming and renewable options

Climate change has become a global reality. The catastrophic consequences of the planet warming are worse than the most cynical scientific predictions. Global warming is here and it’s changing the world as we know it. These effects can be seen everywhere across the globe. Some examples include flooding, severe droughts, intense storms, and more. It is nearly inescapable: the news is talking about extreme weather patterns that wreak havoc on the environment, economy, and society. Climate change is a part of the human experience and will be for years to come. The time to reduce carbon emissions is now.

Personal choices when selecting energy can make a big difference

Making conscious choices to conserve energy can make a big difference. Americans are particularly wasteful, which comes from a steady and reliable energy grid. Much of the world experiences regular power outages due to all manner of problems. The most effective way individuals can curb carbon emissions is to use clean, renewable solar energy. A comprehensive study conducted by NREL determined the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted over an energy source’s lifetime noted that: “While coal-powered technology used up 1050 g of carbon dioxide per kWh of electricity over its lifetime (a median estimate measured in CO2 eq/kWh), solar PV consumed 55 g CO2 eq/kWh.” The NREL researchers noted that for solar, as technology improves, its carbon footprint will diminish. Coal contributes more than 16 times the amount of CO2 emissions compared to solar. Data from the International Atomic Energy Agency reveals that natural gas contributes more than seven times the amount of CO2 emissions compared to solar energy.

Solar energy has never been less expensive

Your household’s energy selection makes a big difference in how environmentally impactful a switch to solar can be. Across the U.S., the two biggest sources of electricity come from coal at 33 percent and natural gas at another 33 percent. However, not all states are the same when it comes to energy consumption and carbon emissions. In fact, CO2 emissions per person can vary wildly by state. For example, Wyoming produces nearly 120 metric tons of CO2 per person, while New York doesn’t even reach 10 metric tons.

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.