4 Green Reasons to Switch to Solar Energy
There are many reasons to adopt solar energy for your home or business. Considering that electricity costs will continue to rise due to increasingly long and hot summers, choosing to switch to solar becomes the best way to produce independent electricity and lock in decades of predictable energy costs. Additionally, the environmental impact of solar energy systems is another positive aspect to consider. Installing solar energy systems is, therefore, the smartest solution to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future while also gaining significant economic benefits. If you are considering installing a solar system for your home or business, it is important to consider four ecological advantages.
A typical family home consumes just over 2,700 kWh per year. Even a modestly sized solar energy system can easily reduce this consumption by 80%, and it is quite possible to approach even 100%. Given these levels and consumption, the environmental impact of solar is significant: it is proven that in about twenty years, producing only 80% of the average annual energy needs of the house, a solar energy system will offset CO2 emissions equivalent to 70,000 kg of coal and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 45 tons.
It’s quite obvious that driving an electric car means less pollution. Opting for an electric vehicle also means offsetting 100% of the harmful CO2 emissions typical of a traditional car. However, what is still not well understood, and causes unnecessary inefficiencies, is that if you charge your electric vehicle from a non-solar home, all you are doing is shifting the energy expense from the gas station to your monthly electric bill. A properly designed solar energy system will power your home and your electric car, further offsetting the “dirty” electricity you would otherwise have to buy from the national grid.
This aspect is less obvious and widespread, but it is certainly one of the major environmental benefits associated with solar. While all production processes require a large amount of water to operate, the total amount of water needed to generate solar electricity is significantly lower than for more traditional sources of electricity. Older and more traditional technologies such as nuclear, natural gas, and oil extraction plants require huge amounts of water for cooling. With solar energy, this risk is avoided, thus preserving local water reserves for other purposes such as agriculture, drinking water systems, and other vital needs.
The global population will continue to grow, but the Earth has only one reserve of non-renewable oil, coal, and natural gas. The sun is the Earth’s most abundant energy source, producing an incredible 173,000 Terawatts of solar energy every second! This is more than 10,000 times the world’s combined total energy consumption and is always available. In contrast, fuels will eventually simply disappear, or the cost required for their extraction and processing will become so excessive that it will no longer be manageable by the population. Therefore, if we do not decide to make a real change, the damage that not only our environment but also our financial structure will face could be irreparable. Solar energy is the best way to protect against the reality of dwindling resources. Choosing to switch to solar means saving the planet and being part of the change. In fact, it is practically the only home investment that will have an immediate and measurable impact on the environment, while also returning your investment from the first moment of operation. Contact our offices and our qualified technicians to bring your solar project to life today! Sources:
1. Solar Energy Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas and CO2 Emissions
A typical family home consumes just over 2,700 kWh per year. Even a modestly sized solar energy system can easily reduce this consumption by 80%, and it is quite possible to approach even 100%. Given these levels and consumption, the environmental impact of solar is significant: it is proven that in about twenty years, producing only 80% of the average annual energy needs of the house, a solar energy system will offset CO2 emissions equivalent to 70,000 kg of coal and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 45 tons.
2. Choose an Electric Vehicle for Your Next Car
It’s quite obvious that driving an electric car means less pollution. Opting for an electric vehicle also means offsetting 100% of the harmful CO2 emissions typical of a traditional car. However, what is still not well understood, and causes unnecessary inefficiencies, is that if you charge your electric vehicle from a non-solar home, all you are doing is shifting the energy expense from the gas station to your monthly electric bill. A properly designed solar energy system will power your home and your electric car, further offsetting the “dirty” electricity you would otherwise have to buy from the national grid.
3. Solar Also Reduces Water Pollution
This aspect is less obvious and widespread, but it is certainly one of the major environmental benefits associated with solar. While all production processes require a large amount of water to operate, the total amount of water needed to generate solar electricity is significantly lower than for more traditional sources of electricity. Older and more traditional technologies such as nuclear, natural gas, and oil extraction plants require huge amounts of water for cooling. With solar energy, this risk is avoided, thus preserving local water reserves for other purposes such as agriculture, drinking water systems, and other vital needs.
4. Solar Reduces the Burden on Limited Resources
The global population will continue to grow, but the Earth has only one reserve of non-renewable oil, coal, and natural gas. The sun is the Earth’s most abundant energy source, producing an incredible 173,000 Terawatts of solar energy every second! This is more than 10,000 times the world’s combined total energy consumption and is always available. In contrast, fuels will eventually simply disappear, or the cost required for their extraction and processing will become so excessive that it will no longer be manageable by the population. Therefore, if we do not decide to make a real change, the damage that not only our environment but also our financial structure will face could be irreparable. Solar energy is the best way to protect against the reality of dwindling resources. Choosing to switch to solar means saving the planet and being part of the change. In fact, it is practically the only home investment that will have an immediate and measurable impact on the environment, while also returning your investment from the first moment of operation. Contact our offices and our qualified technicians to bring your solar project to life today! Sources:
- www.arera.it
- US Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
