Environmental effects of solar power

The price of solar technology is falling which makes installing a solar energy system extremely attractive. Acquiring the energy we need affects our environment in different ways. Some energy sources have a greater impact than others. Energy is lost to the environment during any energy transformation, usually as heat. Have you ever noticed the heat from your computer or car after it has been in use for a while?  None of our devices is completely energy efficient. Fortunately, the energy industry has become more aware of the importance of environmental protection and is working to reduce its long-term impact.

Uranium (nuclear energy)

Nuclear power plants produce no air pollution or carbon dioxide, but they do produce extremely hazardous byproducts like nuclear waste and spent fuels. Most nuclear waste is low level (for example, disposable items that have come into contact with small amounts of radioactive dust), and special regulations are in place to prevent them from harming the environment. But some spent fuel is highly radioactive and must be stored in specially designed reinforced containers. In addition to the fuel waste, much of the equipment in the nuclear power plants become contaminated with radiation and will become radioactive waste after the plant is closed. These wastes will remain radioactive for many thousands of years, which may not allow re-use of the contaminated land. Nuclear power plants use large quantities of water for steam production and for cooling, affecting fish and other aquatic life. In addition, heavy metals and salts can build up in the water used in the nuclear power plant systems. When water is discharged from the power plant, these pollutants can negatively affect water quality and aquatic life. The triple disaster at Fukushima in 2011 was a wake-up call for the entire energy grid. Even today, seven years later, thousands of gallons of radioactive water flows into the sea every day from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.

Wind power

Wind is a clean energy source. It produces no pollution because no fuel is burned to generate electricity. The most serious environmental impact from wind energy may be its effect on bird and bat populations. Wind turbine design has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades to help mitigate this impact. Turbine blades are now solid, so there are no lattice structures that entice birds to perch. Additionally, the blades’ surface area is much larger, so they don’t have to spin as fast to generate power. Slower-moving blades mean fewer bird collisions.

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.