For billions of years, our planet has benefitted from the energy of the sun in one way or another. All life on Earth would not have been possible without the help of the sun. Now that we have come so far in terms of technology, our natural resources are slowly dwindling, and most of our energy sources are not sustainable or renewable. Thus, we have sought different alternatives that we can harness as energy sources, and solar energy is one of the promising sources
Read on as we share the positive environmental impacts of solar energy.
Solar Energy Reduces Strain on Non-Renewable Resources
Solar energy is something you can harness repeatedly without worrying that it might get depleted over time. Unlike fossil fuels which are non-renewable and emit greenhouse gases, sunlight does not have emissions that harm the environment. If your community is currently harnessing energy from coal-fired power plants, it’s high time you coordinated with local solar companies near you and got off the grid. While this move can be a significant investment, it is well worth it considering not just the environmental benefits, but also your ROI, in which you can have a payback period of 2-4 years. Getting off the grid means fuel-powered electric companies and providers will have fewer homes to provide electrical services, prompting the use of less coal or fossil fuels. You also have a sense of ownership over your electricity source, and you learn to use it wisely while saving money in the process.
Harnessing Solar Energy Reduces Air Pollution
Fossil fuels not only emit greenhouse gases, but the byproducts of burnt fuel also create various pollutants. Smog, haze, and acid rains are occurring more frequently in places with high utilization of fossil fuels, especially as power sources. Smog and haze trap dirty air and pollutants which are bad for our health. We can contribute to lessening air pollution in our little ways by installing solar panels and using solar power in our homes. On a greater level, we can push to have our community harness solar energy as an alternative power source. Even with just reducing fossil fuel consumption from power plants, you can already feel some changes in the air quality in your community.
Solar Energy Utilizations Helps Fight Global Warming
Global warming and climate change are now becoming serious environmental concerns in countries around the world. If our utilization of fossil fuels and the emission of CO2 and greenhouse gasses continue unabated, we will likely experience more destructive weather patterns around the world, a dangerous rise in global temperature, and the melting of the polar ice caps which can lead to rising water levels. Rather than wait for this grim scenario to happen soon, what we do today about our energy source matters. Solar energy offers a solution by providing a stable and renewable energy source that doesn’t require the burning of fossil fuels. This means that lower amounts of CO2 and greenhouse gases are released into the air, which can slow down the rise in global temperature. If a general utilization of solar energy is achieved around the world, climate change and global warming can be halted.
Water is Conserved When Using Solar Energy
One of the least appreciated benefits of solar energy is the potential water conservation it can bring. Conventional power plants expend large amounts of water for cooling generators and equipment, fuel refining and processing, and fuel transport. Solar panels do not utilize water when generating electricity, and going solar can help save thousands of liters of water, especially in dry areas.
There are various positive environmental impacts that solar energy can bring. We have only touched on the major benefits of solar energy to the environment. We hope that the benefits discussed here will help spread awareness and spur us into action to choose renewable sources of energy like solar power.
