4 Benefits of Solar Energy to the Environment

There are many benefits to using solar power in your home or business. Going solar can help you save on your electric bills or help you prepare for an emergency. But one of the main reasons many people switch over to solar power is because of the environmental benefits of solar energy. You’ve probably heard about how much going solar can help our planet, but you may not know exactly how solar energy helps the environment. Read on to learn about 4 benefits of solar energy on the environment.

1.Reduces Water Scarcity

Water is one of the most valuable natural resources, and its scarcity can be catastrophic and dangerous. In dry places, it can already be difficult to have access to freshwater, and the scarcity will only continue as we continue to use more and more water. What some people fail to realize is that generating most forms of electricity actually uses immense amounts of water, thousands of gallons. Water is used to cool generators and process and refine fuel in traditional energy plants. Hydro-power and nuclear energy rely on excessive amounts of water, often from dams, to generate electricity. These dams can also affect ecosystems and damage the environment. Solar panels use energy from the sun to create electricity, which can help reduce the strain on water resources. If the US switched to solar energy, hypothetically we could use the water saved in electricity to hydrate 1.3 million homes.

2.Reduces Dependence on Finite Resources

Humans rely on resources like coal, natural gas, and oil for power, but the earth only has so much of these resources. Eventually, fossil fuels will run out with catastrophic consequences on our society. By reducing strain on these finite resources, we also reduce the effects they have on the environment. Mining, drilling, transporting, and burning fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere that harm us and our surrounding environment. These pollutants can harm our health, and by reducing them, we could save 25,000 lives. Using renewable solar power will help reduce our dependence on these finite resources that damage the environment, thereby helping keep the earth healthy and protecting our infrastructure.

3.Lowers Greenhouse Gases

One of the main contributors to global warming is the number of pollutants and excess CO2 in the atmosphere. As the carbon count increases, so does the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere that continues to damage our planet. More than a third of greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity usage in homes and other buildings.

But solar energy doesn’t release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when generating electricity, unlike traditional methods and even natural gases. By using solar power, your home or business can reduce its own carbon footprint and contribute to slowing global warming. Reducing the number of traditional electricity homes use can have a significant impact on the environment.

4.Reduces Air Pollution

The processes of mining, drilling, and burning fossil fuels release pollutants into the air, and these pollutants are what causes a large majority of the air pollution. If you’ve ever been somewhere with mountains that trap the pollution in, you’ve seen just how much can be in the air and experienced how hard it can be to breathe. Air pollution has been linked to asthma, cancer, allergies, bronchitis, pneumonia, headaches, anxiety, and heart attacks.

The pollutants from fossil fuels harm our health as well as the environment. But solar energy doesn’t release pollution into the air or harm the atmosphere. So by using solar panels, we are able to reduce the amount of pollution in the air and help the environment and our own health.

Overall, solar energy has many benefits for the environment. Switching to solar energy can help reduce the strain on valuable resources, reduce the hazards in our air, and protect our environment from the harmful effects of global warming. Solar panels and systems help us harness the clean and renewable energy from the sun in a way that protects our environment. To get started with your solar transition and installation, contact us for more information about solar energy and its benefits on the environment.