Solar electric power and pollution

The troubling effects of global warming are making renewable energy sources gradually much more popular. The prices of solar panels continue to decline, making it a wise investment for more and more homeowners.

How solar panels generate electricity

Photovoltaic and solar-thermal panels generate free electricity by converting sunlight into electricity or transferring the sun's heat to heating and ventilation systems. The use of solar panels to generate energy provides many benefits, which include reductions in the costs associated with generating electricity. Solar panels also provide pollution-free power sources and allow new levels of energy independence to consumers.

Solar energy helps replace toxic coal power

Coal power plants filter their emissions, but trace amounts of toxic particulates penetrate air filtering systems and enter the atmosphere. Mercury is among the pollutants that enter the air from coal power plant emissions, and it can contaminate local ecological systems and harm plants, wildlife and human inhabitants. Because solar power is emissions-free, it is much safer for the environment.

Conservation of Resources

Solar panels convert light from the sun into heat and electricity, therefore they require no other source of fuel. Coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power systems rely on nonrenewable resources to generate power.

Preserving the habitats adversely affected by coal mining

Coal and uranium mining are often destructive to their local environments. Heavy equipment, waste products and large-scale disruption of local habitats can make the land surrounding a mine worthless after the mine’s useful life. Coal mining is also hazardous to the workers who operate the mines and many deaths have resulted from this extremely toxic energy form. The use of solar panels eliminates these hazards to both miners and the environment.

Reducing the need for nuclear power

Nuclear power is sometimes considered as a clean or "green" energy source because of the lack of air pollution associated with it, but nothing could be further from the truth. Nuclear fission reactors are controversial because of the long-lasting nuclear waste they produce and the possibility of catastrophic events, such as the Chernobyl meltdown and the Fukushima meltdowns. But this is only the start of the problems associated with nuclear power. Cost factors are another powerful reason to mothball every nuclear power plant in existence. The initial construction of nuclear facilities is incredibly expensive and the decommissioning of the plants is even more costly, but these costs are rarely mentioned. There are reasons for Americans to be concerned about the safety of these plants. Three nuclear plants similar in design to the Fukushima Daichi plant are in operation in the United States today. Some of our nuclear power plants are located very close to oceans and other vulnerable bodies of water.

Reducing the costs of electricity

Solar energy poses no such health risks and is a financial benefit because a solar energy system not only eliminates your electric bill every month but the initial investment is paid back in a short period of time. Once a solar panel is installed, it operates without cost. In some situations, solar panels can be used to supplement existing power sources to lower the cost of energy. In power systems where all of the power is supplied by solar and other renewable energy sources, such as wind or hydroelectric, electricity is produced totally free of cost.

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. Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar and enjoy the elimination of your electric bill!

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