Greenhouse gases and solar power

Pollution is the prime motivator to stop burning fossil fuels. Politicians and lawmakers are not always swayed by the most sensible energy solutions. Electricity is not inherently polluting.T he pollution damage comes from how that electricity is generated. Most utility companies in the United States use coal or natural gas as fuel to generate energy for their power plants – both are dirty, fossil fuels that are non-renewable. Coal is probably the dirtiest form of fossil fuel energy because it emits tons of pollution each year, including particulate matter and mercury, both of which contribute to a wide variety of human health problems. However, an even greater concern is the emission of greenhouse gases – the primary cause of climate change. To measure the impact of these greenhouse gas emissions, we calculate a carbon footprint, which represents the overall greenhouse gases emitted by a  building or process, expressed in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents. 

Solar Is THE Green Alternative

Because the prices of solar panels are falling, many individuals and companies are exploring whether installing a solar energy system makes sense for them. Some believe they have to live in the desert Southwest or California to make proper use of solar power. This is not true, because solar panels also work when the sun is not shining. Unlike traditional power generation sources, solar technologies produce electricity using a renewable source, so there’s no limit to how much energy can be extracted by tapping into the sun. Solar systems also generate electricity without creating noise or emitting pollutants such as greenhouse gases, smog, acid rain, or water pollution. Even when the emissions related to solar cell manufacturing are counted, solar panels produce less than 15% of the CO2 emitted from a conventional coal-fired power plant.

Environmental impact of solar

A solar system installed on your building’s roof could have enormous benefits for the environment with long-term, positive gains for your business as well. For example, a 12 kW solar system that generates over 17,000 kWh of clean energy annually is equivalent to:
Trees planted: 4,506
Cars taken off the road: 33.6
Homes powered: 21.3
Gallons of gas saved: 19,769
Tons of CO2 emissions cut: 194

There has never been a better time to go solar. The time is now!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.