How  solar cuts harmful emissions

Utilizing solar energy and converting it via photovoltaic technology to electrical energy is one of several energy alternatives that the world will need to help reduce our reliance on burning fossil fuels. These dangerous fossil fuels like oil, gas & coal, pollute the air with hydrocarbon-based pollutants, along with the biggest culprit, Carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is an odorless colorless gas that acts in the atmosphere to trap reflected heat causing a rise in the average global temperature.

Solar Energy Reduces Water Pollution

In thermoelectric plants, coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear energy require cooling — and this requires vast amounts of water. ... Generating energy from renewable sources instead of fossil fuels can improve public health and river ecosystems.

Solar Energy Reduces Air Pollution

Air pollution is a significant problem in many of our nation’s cities. 31 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States comes from electricity production — a shocking statistic, especially when methane and carbon dioxide emissions are major contributors to global warming. Greenhouse gases impair air quality and increase weather extremes. Using solar energy systems can mitigate some of the damage, as Denver solar panels don’t produce any greenhouse gasses when generating electricity. Metropolitan areas in India and China are polluting at an unprecedented rate and would benefit enormously from solar technology.

Solar Energy Reduces Hazardous Waste

It is estimated that more than 400 million tons of hazardous waste are produced every year, according to the United Nations Environmental Program. However, not all waste is thrown away safely. In Canada, for example, 30 percent of waste producers fail to meet government guidelines for correct disposal procedures. This is not a safe situation. Nuclear fission products, for example, continue to be radioactive for thousands of years, meaning they could have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. Unlike dirty energy sources, solar power doesn’t rely on fuel to generate electricity, eliminating the problem of radioactive waste storage and fuel transportation.

Water vapor in the atmosphere

It is clear that water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, both by weight and by volume. Water vapor is also an effective greenhouse gas, as it does absorb longwave radiation and radiates it back to the surface, which contributes to warming.
As compared to other greenhouse gases, water vapor stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time. Water vapor will generally stay in the atmosphere for days (before being released as rain) while other greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide or methane, will stay in the atmosphere for a much longer period of time (ranging from years to centuries) thus contributing to warming for an extended period of time. The addition of water vapor to the atmosphere, for the most part, cannot be directly attributed to human-generated activities. Increased water vapor content in the atmosphere is referred to as a feedback process. Warmer air is able to hold more moisture. As the planet warms, air temperatures rise, more evaporation from water sources and land occurs, thus increasing the atmospheric moisture content. The increase in water vapor in the atmosphere is an effective greenhouse gas, thus contributes to even more warming: it enhances the greenhouse effect.

There has never been a better 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.