Health and environmental benefits of solar energy

Pollution on our planet can be greatly mitigated by our increased solar energy production.  To illustrate the impact, it is estimated that adding another 100 GW of solar capacity in the United States would prevent emissions of at least 70,000 tons of nitrous oxide and 126,000 tons of sulfur dioxide each year. This would greatly benefit the diversity of our ecosystems but also ensure the health of our crops and freshwater resources.
 
 It helps mitigate climate change

Electricity generation with solar panels does not produce any greenhouse gasses. Some greenhouse gases are emitted during the manufacture and installation of a solar system, but this amount is still at least ten times lower than emissions of a standard coal-fueled power plant. Some sources report that improvements in the efficiency of solar technology will result in further decreases in the overall amount of emissions. This is in strong contrast with fossil fuels, which are currently responsible for releasing 75 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions globally. Even though carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere, our energy sector has been altering its natural concentrations since the Industrial Revolution to the point that our planet cannot sustain this increased level without consequences such as global warming. Solar power has a great potential for mitigating the impact of the energy sector on climate change. A research study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicates that replacing coal power plants with 100 GW of solar power could eliminate over 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Even now, the 20 GW of solar installations operating in the United States offset 17 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.An important discovery recently suggested that solar panels in cities might have a cooling effect of up to two degrees on the surrounding area. This happens because buildings with solar panels capture and convert solar energy into electricity, while buildings without solar panels absorb some of the incoming radiation from the sun, converting it into heat. Solar panels on rooftops could, according to this observation, affect city climates by keeping the urban heat island effect at a minimum during summer heat waves. 

It leaves water resources intact 

Power plants need large amounts of water to produce steam to spin turbines and cool down the system afterward. The quantity of water used in the process cannot be underestimated, as it makes up almost fifty percent of all freshwater withdrawals in the United States—accounting for billions of gallons every day.
Solar photovoltaic cells do not need water to generate electricity. Given how scarce a resource water is and how many countries are battling severe cases of drought every year, this is one of the most important environmental benefits of solar power.

Healthy lake ecosystem 

In addition to compromising our clean drinking water supply, the energy industry also contributes to severe pollution. An analysis done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that 72 percent of heavy metal water contamination comes from coal power plants. This makes them the number one source of water pollution in the United States. Pollution also occurs when power plants pump used water back into natural water bodies. This water is often much warmer than normal and causes health problems to many aquatic animals such as fish and amphibians, who are unable to sustain excessive temperature changes.

Mining industry pollutes

The mining industry, especially coal, also plays a significant role in water quality degradation. Mining often exposes rocks with heavy metal content or sulfur minerals. When rainwater reacts with them, it carries them off to soils, lakes, and rivers. Local ecosystems and agricultural lands then become toxic to plants, animals, and even humans. Solar farms leave local water resources intact and pollution-free. They also do not compete with agriculture, drinking systems, and other vital water requirements.

Make the change to solar today
 
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.