Solar power: friend of the earth

It is mostly environmental concerns that motivate the solar energy consumer. But the financial and practical benefits of installing a solar energy system are becoming more clear as costs decrease.  Solar panels can comprise as much as 100% of your electric usage depending on the amount of roof space available, solar access and other circumstances. For many businesses and homeowners, solar is an obvious solution to their energy needs. However, if you’re on the fence about whether to get a solar system or questioning if it’s really worth the time, effort and investment, you may want to weigh the other benefits of solar energy, as well.

Not only is solar energy an incredibly profitable financial decision for your home or business, but it can also add substantially to the wellness of the environment and even to public health as a whole.  To help you better understand why solar energy is reliable for the environment, we’ve detailed the differences between solar and traditional energy, the drawbacks of traditional fossil fuels and why solar panels are better for the environment.

Solar energy vs. conventional energy

Estimates state that 2/3 of the electricity generated in the United States comes from fossil fuels — 33 percent from coal, 33 percent from natural gas and another one percent from petroleum oil. When ignited, these traditional energy sources can be used to produce electricity. However, they simultaneously produce a substantial amount of greenhouse gases. These gases get discharged into the atmosphere, polluting the air and trapping heat within the earth’s atmosphere. The most prominent of these gases is carbon dioxide.

Between manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance, and dismantling, natural gas emits between 0.6 and two pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, and coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds per kilowatt-hour. Though it may appear to be harmless smoke, these gases can build up in the atmosphere, causing serious harm to the environment and public health.

Solar energy offers a viable solution today

Solar energy, on the other hand, uses light received from the sun to produce electricity. The process typically involves sunlight hitting a solar panel, where the photons of light are converted into electrons, making electricity. This electricity can then be converted into a form useable within the building, at which point it can be immediately employed. This process is quick, direct and offers little to no carbon emissions. Between manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance and dismantling, solar energy produces a total of 0.07 to 0.2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, a fraction of the amount produced by fossil fuels.

The drawbacks of traditional energy sources

While traditional energy sources have served the United States reasonably well for decades, the environmental and public health problems associated with this energy source have become more prominent. Many of these issues are caused by the byproducts of the fossil fuel burning process, known more generally as “greenhouse gases.” These issues have arisen across the globe, causing several countries to pursue alternative energy production processes in an effort to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Some of the negative aspects of fossil fuel-based energy

Harmful extraction process: The uprooting of fossil fuels from the earth can be devastating for the local environment. Strip mining, drilling, and fracking can all have negative impacts on the neighboring environment. Strip mining leaves ecosystems more vulnerable to catastrophic flooding, while drilling can unearth toxic minerals, poisoning groundwater.

How can I do my part to use cleaner energy?

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you,

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.

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