Environmental Benefits
Environmental Benefits of Solar Panels
It’s no secret that two major selling points of switching to a solar-powered lifestyle are 1) savings on your utility bills, and 2) reducing your carbon footprint. Regardless of the reason you’re choosing to go solar, one thing is for sure: by enjoying these benefits of solar energy, you’re helping to preserve the environment and encouraging global sustainability, one ton of CO2 at a time. Reduce your carbon footprint, and run your home — and even your car — on clean, emission-free energy.
Let’s put the environmental benefits of solar panels into an easy-to-understand perspective:
- 135 — the amount in tons of CO2 avoided
- 440,000 — the equivalent of miles NOT driven
- 2.3 acres — equivalent area of trees planted
These facts are based on a typical 4kW solar panel system installed on your home, over a 25-year period. As you can see, the advantages of solar energy are real, measurable and affect everyone on the planet.
Environmental Benefits and Impact of Solar Powered Solutions
Using solar powered systems is a proven way to reduce the amount of electricity drawn from fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal. The clean renewable energy harnessed from the sun makes for a far more suitable alternative for your home, which in turn drastically cuts the total amount of energy your utility company once needed to meet the energy demand of your household.
Solar panels boast both social and cumulative advantages. The more people see their neighbors, friends, and family using solar, the more likely they are to convert and become solar energy users themselves. This then leads to lesser fossil fuel consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a safer and smarter planet.
Consider these Interesting Facts
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a total of 30.2 billion metrics tons (mT) of world energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2008. This figure is expected to increase all the way to 35.2 billion mT in 2020 and as high as 43.2 billion mT in 2035. It is also estimated that these emissions will expand at 16% over the next 22 years — this should be a huge cause for concern.
On the other hand, solar energy and panels do not emit carbon dioxide emissions and provide your home with clean power. Furthermore, solar manufacturers are employing greener methods and practices as each day passes, to significantly reduce the amount resources used in the creation of solar materials and products. This move only furthers the immense advantages offered by solar panels.
The Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates
Take a look at the carbon dioxide emissions of the two most common non-renewable energy sources in the US compared to solar:
Coal: Ranges from about 800 to 1250 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour (gCO2eq/kWh)
Natural gas: Can range from 360 to 575 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour (gCO2eq/kWh)
Solar (photovoltaic): On the other hand only ranges from about 43 to 73 grams of C02 per kilowatt hour (gCO2eq/kWh)
What can we take away from these stats and chart?
Relative to solar energy, coal contributes over 16 times the amount of CO2 emissions, while natural gas contributes over 7 times the amount of CO2 emissions relative to solar energy. The clear winner is solar energy and its advantages are indisputable compared it to fossil fuel use.
Share the Benefits of Solar Energy Today!
Solar power has come a long way in the past decade and we here at Renewable Energy Corporation are committed to making sure you enjoy its benefits as well. Call us today at (410) 560-9032 or fill out our contact form, for a FREE estimate. As a society, we can’t afford NOT to invest in solar! You can also help us spread the word about the advantages of solar by sharing the following infographic. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to copy HTML code that you can paste right onto your site.)
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