Solar is the ultimate alternative energy choice

The world is moving to alternative energy and there are many reasons for it. Whether you’re a homeowner or business owner, solar energy is a sustainable, clean, and affordable way to generate electricity. While it provides increasingly more financial benefits, it also provides health and environmental benefits, which are equally important. If you’re considering  switching to solar energy, it’s worth taking a moment to consider these health and environmental benefits:

Solar energy reduces air pollution

Fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide (CO2), make up the majority of greenhouse gas emissions.  But smaller amounts of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are also emitted. Harmful gases like these are the leading contributors to climate change and an increase in pollution. Air pollution can cause cardiovascular and respiratory illness and even long-term damage to various organs. However, generating electricity with solar panels produces no greenhouse gases and significantly decreases carbon emissions. Even one household switching to solar and generating cleaner air will make a difference and will also serve as an example to neighbors.

Solar energy reduces water scarcity

Thermoelectric power plants, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities require huge amounts of water to help with their crucial cooling requirements. However, coal-fired power plants alone account for 72% of all water pollution in the country and have been linked to serious health problems like cancer and neurological damage. Every year, power utilities dump millions of tons of toxic pollutants into our nation’s waterways. While most manufacturing processes require some water, solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity without requiring any water.  In other words, solar cells help produce cleaner drinking water!

Solar energy reduces your carbon footprint

Installing solar panels is an excellent option for many families. Solar power is a great option for homeowners that want to reduce their carbon footprint. The average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer is 10,766-kilowatt hours (kWh), assuming an energy consumption of approximately 897 kWh per month. By installing solar on your home, you can reduce your impact on the environment by generating power with no emissions. Average consumption will produce enough clean energy to offset the emissions from 19,638 miles driven by an average vehicle, 902 gallons of gasoline ignited, and 8,766 pounds of coal burned. While you won’t be able to totally eliminate all of your home’s greenhouse gas emissions, switching to solar power can make a real difference for the environment.

Solar energy limits the need for non-renewable resources

Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy sources which means they cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption. Eventually, the world will be depleted of fossil fuels or it will become too expensive to find and then extract when all other sources are gone. In comparison, solar energy is a renewable energy. Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource we have with 173,000 terawatts of solar energy striking the Earth continuously — that’s more than 10,000 times the world’s total power consumption. Switching to solar energy is the best way to protect against the reality of finite fuel resources that will eventually become an energy crisis.

Solar energy helps in preserving our natural world

In many parts of the United States, open land is scarce, and thermoelectric power plants, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities require huge plots of land to handle their massive production lines. This land could be utilized for other purposes like businesses or residences. Additionally, these plants and facilities regularly pollute the surrounding areas with gases and toxic wastes and negatively affecting the local environment. Conversely, solar energy can be placed on currently unused rooftops while giving off zero emissions.

The time is now to go solar!

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