How Increased Usage of Solar Energy Positively Impacts the Environment

How Increased Usage of Solar Energy Positively Impacts the Environment

Climate change is a phenomenon that you cannot ignore any longer. We are already experiencing its effects right now.

NASA has outlined some of the most notable effects of climate change that are currently observable, and these include soaring global temperatures, increased precipitation, stronger hurricanes, rising sea levels, more frequent droughts, and possibly even an arctic region that’s completely ice-free.

One may think that we are fully capable of enduring more rain, heat waves, and stronger hurricanes, but it’s worth pointing out that those events can also have a tangible impact on our society. Natural disasters could destroy more homes, they could interrupt our transportation systems and our food supply, and the environmental protections we have may no longer be enough to keep us safe.

Let’s also not overlook the fact that animals living in a wide variety of ecosystems are being severely impacted as well. Many of them could go extinct if we don’t act soon.

It may sometimes seem like you cannot do much as an ordinary citizen to fight against climate change, but that is not true. Your actions can still contribute to positive change.

Among the things that citizens can do in the hopes of stemming the impact of climate change includes using renewable energy sources such as solar energy. This article will highlight some of the main reasons why using solar energy can help save the environment.

Relying on Solar Energy Helps Reduce the Emission of Greenhouse Gases

You’ve probably heard of greenhouse gases mentioned often whenever the topics of global warming and climate change come up. Let’s take the time to discuss them now.

For starters, greenhouse gases are not necessarily a bad thing. Those gases trap heat from the sun, and that is part of the reason Earth remains a habitable planet.

The problem now is that too much of those gases are accumulating in the atmosphere. As National Geographic pointed out, the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is keeping more heat trapped.

The Earth is becoming warmer because that excess heat is unable to escape into space.

Given the impact that greenhouse gases have on the environment, it would be in our best interest to reduce the production of them as much as possible. The issue here is that much of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from the burning of fossil fuels that we use to power homes and other buildings. Moving forward with this system is unsustainable and actively harmful to the environment.

Switching over to renewable energy sources such as solar energy that are emission-free can cut down on the amount of greenhouse gases that wind up stuck in the atmosphere.

Solar Energy Is Easier and Safer to Harvest Compared to More Conventional Fuel Sources

Harvesting solar power involves the installation of solar panels, the construction of a power plant, and routine maintenance of that plant. It’s not a completely mess-free operation but compared to what we require for coal mining or refining oil, it's better for the environment.

Entire landscapes can be altered, and water systems could wind up polluted due to coal mining efforts. Significant amounts of methane gas are also produced during the mining process. You also need to account for the greenhouse gases that are produced as coal is burned.

According to the United States Energy Information Administration, nearly one percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country came from coal mining and abandoned coal mines in 2017.

Meanwhile, residents from different parts of the world talk about how damaging oil spills are to the environment.

Collecting solar energy still has an environmental impact, but it’s nothing compared to how harmful coal mining and oil refining are.

Using Solar Energy More Can Help Us Reduce Water Consumption

Solar power plants need water to operate properly. Water is needed to clean the solar collectors and concentrators while also cooling down the turbine generators.

There’s no denying that plenty of water will be needed to keep solar power plants operating, but that is still preferable to keeping things as they are.

Per the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, allowing for the increased usage of solar energy across the United States could effectively reduce water consumption in 36 states. Conserving water is always important, and that goal is easier to achieve with the help of solar energy.

Solar Panels Are Long-Lasting and Recyclable

Solar panels are items that homeowners will not throw away after a couple of years so that they can get new ones installed. Many of these solar panels can last for about twenty-five years, and that’s on the low end of the spectrum. Some solar panels can remain in good shape for up to three or even four decades.

Getting your panels from a reputable provider such as Solar Renewable Energy is one way to ensure that your installed items will be good to go for a long time.

Even when the time comes to replace those solar panels, they won’t need to go into landfills completely intact. Many of the materials used to make solar panels can be recycled and repurposed.

You don’t need to worry about the solar panels themselves being harmful to the environment down the line.

Increased Adoption of Solar Energy Allows for the Improved Usage of Financial Resources

Climate change is costly.

It will cost a lot of money to help the people who will be displaced by the stronger hurricanes and to repair the damage to the cities they hit. You also need to think about how much more expensive some resources will become if they dwindle in numbers, due to climate change.

This can also impact you directly as your electric bills may skyrocket due to more energy to cool down your home.

Using solar energy more often can keep us from paying dearly in the future. The savings we accumulate could fund other programs or design technologies that counteract the harmful effects of climate change.

The bottom line is that solar energy is better for the environment than the fuel sources most people use today. Climate change is already in motion, but we are not powerless to prevent its most serious effects. By adopting solar energy now, you can do your part in slowing down climate change.

Contact us at Solar Renewable Energy to find out more about why this type of power plan is better for your home or place of business.

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