Solar power is the clear option

There is a desperate need for the planet so stop burning so many fossil fuels and adopt a more sustainable energy plan. Climate scientists are more pessimistic than ever before because of Arctic ice melting at an alarming pace. Pollution can be considerably reduced by our expanded solar energy production.  To illustrate the impact, it is estimated that adding another 100 GW of solar capacity in the United States would restrict emissions of at least 70,000 tons of nitrous oxide and 126,000 tons of sulfur dioxide yearly. This would greatly help the diversity of our ecosystems but also ensure the health of our crops and freshwater resources.

Solar is the leader in clean energy but we need more

One of the most popular features of solar energy is that electricity generation with solar panels does not create any greenhouse gasses. Some experts report that improvements in the efficiency of solar technology will result in further reductions in the overall volume of emissions. This is in strong contrast to fossil fuels, which are currently responsible for issuing 75 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions on the planet.

Even though carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere, our energy sector has been developing its natural concentrations since the Industrial Revolution to the point that our planet cannot support this heightened level without outcomes such as global warming. Solar power has a great potential for diminishing the impact of the energy sector on climate change. A research study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that replacing coal power plants with 100 GW of solar power could eliminate over 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Even now, the 20 GW of solar installations operating in the United States offset 17 million tons of greenhouse gas discharges per year.

Solar panels are needed, especially in urban areas

An important discovery recently suggested that solar panels in cities might have a cooling effect of up to two degrees on the neighboring area. This occurs because structures with solar panels capture and convert solar energy into electricity, while structures without solar panels absorb some of the incoming radiation from the sun, transforming it into heat. Solar panels on rooftops could change city climates by keeping the urban heat island effect at a z

In addition to endangering our clean drinking water supply, the energy industry also contributes to the relentless contamination of our water systems. An analysis done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that 72 percent of heavy metal water contamination arises from coal power plants. This makes them the main source of water pollution in the United States. Pollution also happens when power plants pump used water back into natural bodies of water. This water returned to these water sources is frequently much warmer than normal and causes health problems to many aquatic animals such as fish and amphibians, who are incapable of sustaining dramatic temperature changes.

Mining industry pollutes in a big way

The mining industry, especially coal, also plays a meaningful role in water quality degradation. Mining often reveals rocks with heavy metal content or sulfur minerals. When rainwater reacts with them, it carries them off to soils, lakes, and rivers. Local ecosystems and agricultural lands then become noxious to plants, animals, and humans. Solar farms leave local water resources intact and pollution-free. They also do not compete with agriculture, drinking systems, and other vital water obligations.

Make the change to solar today to make a difference in our environment!

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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