Environmental impacts of solar power

Alarming effects of global warming are dominating the weather news. Heat-related fatalities are an increasingly common occurrence. Europe and North America are in the midst of a long-term heat wave that is responsible for hundreds of deaths. Japan is setting heat records. Are there any methods for cooling our planet?

We are dependent upon dirty energy

Modern society is extremely dependent upon electricity generated by oil and coal, which add to greenhouse gas buildup in our environment. Our homes, vehicles, and technologies require immense amounts of energy, yet fossil fuel supplies are finite. Sunshine is the sustainable resource that can be counted on for as long as the earth is in existence. Solar energy is pervasive throughout many parts of the United States. In a single day, the amount of sunlight hitting the United States is more than 2,500 times the entire country's daily energy usage. From an energy security and sustainability perspective, it seems logical to utilize as much free solar energy as possible.

Clean energy will be the wave of the future

Fortunately, there are multiple technologies used to create electricity from solar energy. Many homes and businesses install photovoltaic panels, which absorb sunlight and use semiconductors to create energy. Larger facilities use panels, too, but others deploy concentrated solar power, which uses lenses or mirrors focused on a small area, where the tremendous heat is turned into electricity. Both technologies help the environment because they reduce the need to burn fossil fuels. That means a correlating drop in air pollution and greenhouse gases. And because they don't have many moving parts, they're quieter, too.

Panels expensive but the price is falling

Photovoltaic panels are still expensive to produce. However, many experts expect that hardware prices will drop by at least 50 percent in the next few years as more companies invest in this technology. Once a resident or business can afford the panels, they're installed easily and tied into the electrical system. One of the great things about solar power is that it produces its greatest output as demand spikes. Energy usage jumps during summer months due to air conditioners -- but that same solar energy that warms the country can be captured and used to power those devices. However, at this point, solar power accounts for only around 1 percent of electricity generation. It will take years of concentrated effort by the government and by private investors to make the most of solar power's potential.

Now is the time to install a solar energy system!

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, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.

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