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One of the most well-known benefits of going solar is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to research conducted at Berkeley, a residential solar panel system with the capability to provide electricity to the whole house can help reduce the carbon footprint by 80% compared to the electricity produced by burning fossil fuels.
When you use the sun to provide energy to your home, you promise a sustainable future for future generations. As you know, the Earth is getting hotter, and extreme climate conditions result in less rainfall and more heat. Going solar is the best option to reduce the greenhouse gas effect and even build a healthier world that we leave for our children. When we have access to natural resources, automatically we reduce our dependence on polluting energy sources like coal.
Using renewable energy sources also helps reduce CO2 emissions resulting in conserving energy. Above all, you save more money by using natural energy products compared to electrical gadgets. What’s not to like?
This month, our team at Solaris Tech will discuss the impact of using solar energy resources on your carbon footprint. The blog will also discuss the meaning of carbon footprint and its effects on the environment.
Carbon footprint is the mark we all leave on the environment, like an actual footprint. No, not with our shoes but using every element that releases carbon. From driving a car to purchasing food items and goods, from lighting up your house with electricity to using electrical appliances, we and everything we own has its carbon footprint.
For educational purposes, carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to satisfy human activities directly or indirectly.
Let us understand the concept of CO2 emission with an example.
The book you are reading is produced in a factory that emits a certain amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. Even the utensils you are using while brushing your teeth have had a history in a factory. The story does not end here. Something as basic as an apple could have traveled hundreds or thousands of polluting miles to your local supermarket. It is impossible to leave no carbon footprint behind - but that is not the reason to stop trying. Think twice about your actions and choices, and you will be able to reduce your mark after all. That is how you can contribute to fighting against climate change.
With each of the following activities, around 1 kg of CO2 is released into the atmosphere which accounts for your carbon footprint.
Quite shocking, right? So what do we do now?
Changing your lifestyle and making the right choice can help in reducing your carbon footprint. Replace cars with bicycles when travelling a short distance. Buy organic food and always switch off the lights when they are not in use.
To reduce the carbon footprint in the atmosphere, homeowners can try investing in solar energy systems like solar panels, batteries and heaters to make use of the sun's energy for electricity or heat.
Before we jump on to know the benefits of solar energy for climate change, let us discuss greenhouse gas emissions. The important thing to know is that carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions are related.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) research suggests that greenhouse gasses trap the heat and make the planet warm. Therefore, we are experiencing climate change across the globe. In some parts, extreme heat results in crop failure and even unexpected weather conditions.
The CO2 released in the atmosphere generally enters through burning fossil fuels like natural gas, coal and oil. According to the EPA, the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions is transportation, electricity, agriculture, commercial use and industry. Above all, electricity is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
As it is clearly stated that CO2 is the most significant contributor to the greenhouse gas effect, there is a need to control the release of CO2 in the atmosphere; otherwise, the average temperature of the planet will continue to rise, affecting the composition of the atmosphere.
To minimize the environmental consequences of the increase in the carbon footprint, people are now shifting their preference to using natural energy sources like solar energy, wind and thermal energy. With the help of technological advancement, it is now possible to generate electricity from the sun's rays and use the energy source for general business purposes. Let us discuss how solar panels can help reduce carbon footprint, and solar panel installation is beneficial for climate change.
As concerns around protecting the environment continue to increase, people have solar panels fitted to their homes to generate electricity.
Solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic cells and convert it into electricity. This way, you can get an advantage to reduce your carbon footprint and move toward a sustainable environment.
The most significant benefit of going solar is that it helps in reducing electricity costs. If the solar panels are large enough, they might be able to produce enough electricity for the whole house. Not only this but using solar panels to generate electricity can help reduce the carbon footprint.
The carbon footprint of a solar panel is around 50g of CO2 per kiloWatt-hour (kW). The solar panel's carbon footprint is 20 times less than the carbon output of coal-powered electricity sources. Solar electricity is green renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants. As per the research, a typical home solar PV system could help you save around 1.3 to 1.6 tonnes of carbon per year. The solar panels will not affect your electricity supply as they work efficiently in both sunny and cloudy weather.
Do not overthink, go solar! It is time to change our choices and lifestyle for a cleaner, greener future. If you are looking for expert guidance on solar panel installation, contact Solaris Tech.
Businesses and homeowners are looking forward to using solar energy because of two primary reasons.
In the previous blog, we talked about the reasons behind using solar energy and how using natural energy is now a prime focus for businesses and homeowners. In this blog, we will discuss the environmental benefits of using solar energy.
The energy produced using solar panels is clean, emission-free and renewable. Earlier, electricity was generated by burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, which resulted in greenhouse gas emissions. Whereas generating electricity using renewable energy - such as wind, water and solar - does not result in any emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. By investing in solar energy, you can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in favour of one of the most abundant, consistent sources of energy we have available: our Sun.
Generating electricity with solar energy instead of fossil fuels can help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2. Greenhouse gasses produced from burning fossil fuels lead to rising global temperatures and climate change. Climate change contributes to severe environmental and public health issues, including extreme weather events, ecosystem changes, rising sea levels and fossil fuels.
You can reduce the demand for fossil fuels and even limit greenhouse gas emissions to shrink your carbon footprint by going solar. Switching from fossil fuels to solar power in the state has the same emissions reduction effect as planting around 150 trees every year. Choosing a clean source of electricity like solar panels can eliminate the same amount of carbon emissions that would result from burning over 5,000 pounds of coal each year.
One of the biggest benefits of renewable energy is that it releases a few air pollutants, keeping the air quality clean and healthy. Recent research conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that widespread adoption of solar energy helps in reducing elements like sulphur oxide and nitrous oxide, which can cause serious health problems.
NREL found that, among other health benefits, solar power results in fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and lots of workdays related to health issues.
The benefits of solar energy are clear. You can save money on your electric bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
One step closer to global change
According to the article published by The Guardian, by 2050, approximately 5 billion people could suffer a shortage of water due to climate change, increased demand and polluted supplies.
According to the reports by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are projected to increase by 50% by 2050, according to the reports by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The global average temperature is projected to increase by 3-6 degrees Celsius.
Serious lifestyle changes are required so that our planet and its natural resources are not compromised. Do you think we are running out of options? Absolutely not - especially if we choose clean solar energy right now!
Going solar and using renewable energy sources for our daily activities can help in reducing the release of Co2 into the atmosphere. Now is the time to replace plastic with jute or cotton bags. Make use of bicycles instead of cars and motorbikes to travel shorter distances. Not only are you contributing to making a sustainable environment, but you are promoting a healthy lifestyle to others.
As a homeowner, installing solar panels can help in reducing the greenhouse gas effect. Solar electricity is green renewable energy and does not release any harmful Co2 or other pollutants. A typical home solar PV system could save over a tonne and a half of carbon dioxide per year. By 2050, 45% of the people will be using solar energy in their homes and workspace to help reduce the GHG and even build a healthier planet.
The benefits of solar energy are clear. Not only can you save money on your electric bills – but you can also reduce your carbon footprint and improve the health of those around you. However, you might have some trouble finding the right supplier to answer your questions.
With our hassle-free Solar Panel installation, set up and cost reduction on clean energy, environmentally conscious choices are a no-brainer. Get in touch with our installation expert to get the most cost-effective solutions for your energy needs.
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