Solar Energy and Greenhouse Emissions
 

What are Greenhouse gases? 

The earth receives nearly all of its energy from the sun in the form of ultraviolet rays and or infrared rays. Around 50% of the energy contained in those rays is absorbed by gases and the rest is reflected back to the clouds. 

The gases that absorb energy are commonly known as Greenhouse Gases. One of their major roles is to maintain the ecosystem by keeping the earth’s temperature at a roughly constant level.
In this article, we discuss how solar energy can help to reduce greenhouse gases.

Typically, Greenhouses are glass type structures that are used to grow plants in areas with cold temperatures.

These glass structures absorb and trap the sunlight.
Trapped sunlight results in an increase in temperature, leading to the proper growth of plants. These gases also work in the exact same way: they keep the earth warm and at a constant level, capable of sustaining life. 

Greenhouse gases safeguard the earth from the extreme heat of the sun, which if unchecked, could potentially burn down the earth.
 

Primary Greenhouse gases and their Contribution 

The primary greenhouse gases present in the earth’s atmosphere are:
Water Vapor (H2O)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Ozone (O3)
CFC (chloro fluoro carbons).
Water Vapor contributes to about 36 – 72% of the greenhouse gases, Carbon dioxide contributes to around 10 – 25%, Methane to around 5 – 10% and Ozone contributes to around 3 – 7% of the greenhouse gases.
 

Sources of Greenhouse Gases

These are the primary sources of greenhouse gasses emission in the atmosphere.

Electricity Production contributes to carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Transportation contributes to carbon dioxide. 

Industry contributes to carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide. 

Commercial and residential buildings contribute to carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. 

Agriculture contributes to carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide

Land use and forestry contributes to carbon dioxide.
 

Limitations of Greenhouse gases 

Nowadays nearly anything you do, from traveling to turning on the light in your house, produces greenhouse gases. 

The production of greenhouse gases should be controlled so it will stop being a threat to our earth’s environment.

Limitations of the greenhouse gases are as follows:

If produced in excess amounts, these gases will trap more energy and eventually the earth’s temperature will rise. 

Rising temperatures will alter the whole ecosystem of the earth. 

The main contributors to the excess emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere: 

Some industrial processes produce more greenhouse gases than required. 

Human activities, such as deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, pollution and many others. 

Population increases lead to greater demands for fossil fuels, machines, and equipment which eventually leads to excess emissions of Greenhouse gases.
 

How can solar energy reduce Greenhouse emissions? 

Estimates state that the average household with a solar installation in the USA produces about 11,000 kWh per year. This is the common energy usage per household in the US.

If we supply this energy by burning coal, the coal plant would emit 7.70 metric tons of CO2 per year or nearly 200 tons over the estimated lifetime of the PV system.
 

Solar Energy Reduces Water Pollution 

Coal, natural gas, oil, and thermoelectric plants and nuclear energy require cooling — and this requires vast amounts of water. But there’s a problem: 72 percent of water pollution comes from coal-fired power plants, and toxic pollution is linked to cancer, heart attacks, and neurological damage. Thankfully, there’s a solution.

Energy generation from renewable sources instead of fossil fuels can improve public health and river ecosystems. Solar energy doesn’t pollute local water resources, because solar photovoltaic cells don’t rely on water to generate power. The result? Cleaner drinking water for your whole family without wasting energy. 

Solar energy reduces air pollution 

Using solar energy systems can mitigate some of the damage, as solar panels don’t produce any greenhouse gasses when generating electricity.

31 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States comes from electricity production — a shocking statistic, especially when methane and carbon dioxide emissions are major contributors to global warming. Greenhouse gases reduce air quality and increase weather extremes.
 

Solar Energy Reduces Hazardous Waste 

Unlike traditional energy sources, solar power doesn’t rely on fuel to generate electricity, eliminating the problem of radioactive waste storage and fuel transportation. More than 400 million tons of hazardous waste is produced every year, according to the United Nations Environmental Program; however, not all waste is thrown away safely. In Canada, for example, 30 percent of waste producers fail to meet government guidelines for correct disposal procedures. This is worrying: Nuclear fission products, in particular, continue to be radioactive for thousands of years, meaning they could have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. Unlike traditional energy sources, solar power doesn’t rely on fuel to generate electricity, eliminating the problem of radioactive waste storage and fuel transportation.
What can you do to promote solar power? 

Many of us want to reduce our carbon footprint. Solar is a renewable, sustainable form of energy that can lessen your environmental impact and save you lots of money in the process. We know switching to solar is a big decision but our goal is to make it as easy as possible. Read our first-time buyer’s guide to solar energy. It’s free and full of need-to-know advice.

Serious about solar energy? Find out how many solar panels your home needs or read answers to the most frequently asked questions about solar energy. Please visit hahasmart.com

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, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. 

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