What are the Environmental Benefits of Going Solar?

The sun is an incredible and renewable resource that has the power to fuel life on earth and provide clean, sustainable energy to all of its inhabitants. 

In fact, more energy from the sun reaches our planet in one hour than is used by the entire population of the world in one year. The sun’s energy can be converted into electricity through solar photovoltaic (PV) modules (photo = light, voltaic = electricity)

There are two primary reasons homeowners are interested in solar energy: first, the financial benefit; and, second, the environmental benefit. In previous blog posts, we’ve covered the financial benefits of solar quite extensively. In this piece, we’ll focus on the environmental benefit of solar. 

Some of the environmental benefits of going solar include:

• Solar energy decreases greenhouse gas emissions
  
  Generating electricity with solar power instead of fossil fuels can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gases, which are produced when fossil fuels are burned, lead to rising global temperatures and climate change. Climate change already contributes to serious environmental and public health issues throughout the country and world, from wildfires out West to increasingly frequent and severe major storms in the East.
  
  By going solar, you can reduce the demand for fossil fuels, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and shrink your own carbon footprint. In fact, just one home installing a solar energy system has a measurable effect on the environment. 

• Reduced Water Usage
  
  If an energy source doesn’t burn fossil fuels to power it, it likely uses some type of water as its resource. Hydropower and nuclear energy both use a lot of water to produce electricity and often, a dam will be built to control water flow and electricity production. The issue is that damming water can have a significant impact on the local ecosystem. Solar panels generate energy from the sun without the use of water and without having a negative impact on the ecosystem.

• Improves Local Air Quality
  
  One of the biggest benefits of solar energy is that it results in very few air pollutants. An analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that widespread solar adoption can significantly reduce nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter emissions, all of which can cause health problems. NREL found that, among other health benefits, solar power results in fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and lost workdays related to health issues.

• Reduces carbon footprint
  
  The term ‘carbon footprint’ is used to account for the release of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere by human activity. The major contributor towards carbon footprint is the use of fossil fuels. Alternatively, solar energy is one of the cleanest forms of energy. For every 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar energy produced, 0.5 to 1 ton of carbon dioxide is offset.

• Lowers consumption of fossil fuels
  
  We have always largely depended on coal, oil and natural gas for our energy needs. Fossil fuels are finite in nature and cannot keep up with the increasing demand of energy and are major contributors for pollution. Solar energy, on the other hand, is abundant and can be endlessly harnessed to meet global energy consumption, reduce energy costs and ensure a stable energy future.

• Helps Fight Climate Change
  
  Solar energy reduces the climate change risks associated with power generation using fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels to produce energy has led to the serious threat of global warming and irreversible climate change. Solar power is now competitive with other sources of energy without emitting the dangerous greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Solar power has wide-ranging advantages for our planet, especially when it comes to our environment. You can enjoy the environmental benefits of solar power with Aztek Solar.

Learn more by getting in touch with our team. We deliver exceptional customer service and would love to share our knowledge about solar energy systems with you!

Thanks for reading!

Brian McKay

President, Aztek Solar

aka - The Solar Guy