Earth’s reaction to climate change

This summer news reports are making it very clear that global warming is happening at a rate that is alarming climate scientists. For example, wildfires in California are more severe and last longer than at any time in history. But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Weather patterns are being affected that cause floods on one side of the world and drought on the other. What is the cause? Experts continue to discover more proof that burning fossil fuels is the prime cause of the danger. Even though fossil fuels are almost exhausted, a frightening degree of pollution continues to be a byproduct of burning these materials. The future of energy generation is in solar power. In fact, this is already becoming true and many solar systems are coming online every day. Solar energy’s promise as an alternative has not been fulfilled yet, and it currently represents a relatively small percentage of U.S. electricity generation. But major technological advances have spurred a spike in its usage, and researchers estimate that a solar-based system is installed in the U.S. every five minutes. In the wake of the Paris climate agreement, how are nonprofits making use of this energy for social good?

The sun is our best hope for the future

Solar energy is really nothing new. The sun has long been considered one of the most viable energy sources—and a path to independence from fossil fuels. However,  solar energy faces many obstacles: the sun doesn’t shine at night, clouds can block the sun, and solar cells have a low conversion efficiency. There is also a problem with pollution lessening the efficiency of solar panels. Fortunately, all the consumer must do is keep the panels clean.

Clean energy initiatives around the globe

There are still some challenges regarding solar and clean-energy initiatives in developing countries. USAID and President Obama’s Power Africa project has promoted a “beyond the grid” approach to defeat these barriers, but as reported by the New York Times, this project hasn’t done much to produce energy. Others think that a focus on solar and other renewable energy sources in poor countries takes away from the more urgent issues of clean water or preventing deadly diseases. Preben Maegaard, Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy, has also warned that “the number of failed renewable energy projects in Africa over the last 20 years is unacceptable, and verging on the irresponsible. These failed projects have set back development by raising aspirations and then failing to deliver.”

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.