Solar power and the earth

It is mostly environmental anxieties that motivate the solar energy consumer. But the financial and pragmatic benefits of installing a solar energy system are growing more clear as costs decrease.  Solar panels can include as much as 100% of your electric usage depending on the amount of roof space available, solar access and other factors. For many businesses and homeowners, solar is an apparent solution to their energy needs. However, if you’re on the fence about whether to get a solar system or questioning if it’s really worth the time, energy and investment, you may want to weigh the other benefits of solar energy, as well.

Not only is solar power an incredibly profitable financial decision for your home or business, but it can also add considerably to the wellness of the environment and even to public health as a whole.  To help you better know why solar energy is reliable for the environment, we’ve detailed the discrepancies between solar and traditional energy, the drawbacks of traditional fossil fuels and why solar panels are better for the environment.

Solar energy vs. traditional energy

Estimates state that 2/3 of the electricity generated in the United States originates from fossil fuels — 33 percent from coal, 33 percent from natural gas and another one percent from petroleum oil. When ignited, these conventional energy sources can be utilized to produce electricity. However, they concurrently produce a substantial amount of greenhouse gases. These gases get released into the atmosphere, polluting the air and trapping heat within the earth’s atmosphere. The most notable of these gases is carbon dioxide.

Between manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance, and dismantling, natural gas releases between 0.6 and two pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, and coal emit between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds per kilowatt-hour. Though it may seem to be harmless smoke, these gases can build up in the atmosphere, creating serious harm to the environment and public health.

Solar energy gives a viable solution today

Solar energy, on the other hand, uses light collected from the sun to produce electricity. The process typically requires sunlight hitting a solar panel, where the photons of light are transformed into electrons, making electricity. This electricity can then be changed into a form useable within the building, at which point it can be immediately employed. This process is fast, direct and offers little to no carbon emissions. Between manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance and dismantling, solar energy offers a total of 0.07 to 0.2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, a fraction of the quantity produced by fossil fuels.

The disadvantages of common energy sources

While traditional energy sources have assisted the United States reasonably well for decades, the environmental and public health problems connected with this energy source have become more noticeable. Many of these issues are caused by the byproducts of the fossil fuel burning process, known more generally as “greenhouse gases.” These issues have arisen across the globe, causing some countries to pursue alternative energy production processes in an effort to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Some of the negative aspects of fossil fuels

Harmful extraction process: The uprooting of fossil fuels from the ground can be disastrous for the local environment. Strip mining, drilling, and fracking can all have adverse impacts on the neighboring environment. Strip mining leaves ecosystems more exposed to catastrophic flooding, while drilling can unearth toxic minerals, poisoning groundwater.

How can I do my part to use cleaner energy?

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you,

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.

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