If anyone ever asks you why use solar panels to power your home, the only answer you should give them is, why not?
Whether it’s for the sake of health or the environment, people are interested in using renewable energy for their homes and businesses. And, solar panels are the leading source of renewable energy.
With more and more people opting for solar panels for their homes and businesses, lots of solar farms are being constructed each year.
But why is solar power gaining so much popularity? There are quite a few good reasons that you may not be aware of.
Continue reading this article if you want to know how environmentally beneficial solar panels are!
5 Reasons Why Solar Panels are Good for the Environment
Solar panels are the most eco-friendly option to power your home or business. They draw energy from the sun, a renewable resource that never declines. It means they can improve the air quality and protect the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Apart from that, there are a few more key environmental benefits solar panels can provide, including:
Using less water
This is particularly important if you live on the driest parts of the world where water is scarce.
Water is used for processing and refining fuel, cooling generators, and transposing fuel through pipes – everything that’s related to producing electricity.
The amounts used are not a small figure either. In 2020, the US alone used 47.5 trillion gallons of water for the electric power sector. This can prove to be a challenge for areas where there is a limited supply of usable water.
On the other hand, generating power through solar panels requires no water. The solar photovoltaic cells generate electricity without using any water, thus reducing the pressure on this precious resource.
The only time you might need water is to clean the panels when they become a bit grubby, which rainwater can do just fine.
Reducing air pollution
You breathe the air to live. That’s why it mustn’t contain any harmful elements.
Fossil fuels generate CO2, methane gases, as well as other pollutants that don’t just harm your health, but also the environment.
Breathing poor air on a daily basis can cause severe health issues after a certain time. You may end up suffering from allergies, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, anxiety, and even cancer.
Solar panels can be a boon for your health in that case since they produce few pollutants. Besides, they decrease the concentration of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and more, all of which can cause health problems.
An analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that widespread solar adoption would significantly improve air quality and reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and particulate matter emissions.
Help to slow climate change
The release of toxic gases from fossil fuels like CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane not only pollutes the air but also enhances the greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming and climate change.
Climate change has already caused severe public health and environmental issues such as the change in the ecosystem, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, etc.
Switching to solar systems can drastically reduce your dependency on fossil fuels, resulting in a decreased amount of CO2 released by industries and factories. When the release of toxic gases is low, it will eventually reduce the greenhouse effect.
If you’re concerned about your environment, it’s high time you replace your traditional energy systems with solar panels.
However, it’s also important to get high-quality solar panels to get the optimum results. Do not forget to do thorough research and look into the reviews and ratings to get the best solar PV for your home or business.
Reducing your household’s carbon footprint
As a responsible citizen of the earth, the last thing you want is to increase your carbon footprint.
However, with the use of fossil fuels, it can be difficult to do so.
Solar energy can help you in this case. As you already know, solar panels don’t need water to generate electricity, the source of energy is free and abundant, and they don’t release toxic gases to the environment.
Going for solar energy will eventually make your households and offices more efficient and sustainable since you will be using one of the cleanest sources of energy.
Besides, when you’re replacing the grid with solar energy, you’re also reducing the need for CO2-emitting energy to be generated for the grid on your behalf. Even with a smaller solar system installed at your home, you are reducing the carbon footprint of your household.
Use of Sustainable Materials in Solar Construction
The integration of sustainable materials during solar panel construction significantly enhances their already drastic environmental benefits.
Solar manufacturers have been increasingly opting for more eco-friendly aggregate materials for solar, such as recycled base materials like concrete and limestone, and certain plastics, to minimize waste and reduce the overall carbon footprint associated with production.
Advanced research is also leading to the development of solar cells using organic and perovskite materials, which offer a promise of lower environmental impact when comparing them to traditional silicon-based cells.
These revolutionary innovations not only improve the lifecycle sustainability of solar panels, but also support the broader goal of creating a more eco-friendly energy infrastructure.
Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels
Fossil fuel, natural gas, burning coal, petroleum, and other heavy oil produce tons of CO2, the component most responsible for global warming.
Besides, these fuels aren’t available in infinite amounts. We won’t be able to generate any more energy once we run out.
This is one of the most obvious reasons you should switch to solar energy, a renewable energy source. The sunlight used in solar energy production is abundant and free.
In fact, harnessing the sunlight for just an hour could produce energy to power the entire world for a year.
Switching to solar energy means you’re reducing your reliance on non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuel while taking advantage of an abundant, free source of energy.
Conclusion
If you’ve read so far, you already know why solar panels are a boon for the environment. From minimizing water usage and curbing air pollution to combating climate change and reducing carbon footprints, the impact of solar energy is both far-reaching and transformative.
Switching to solar panels as the preferred source of renewable energy is not just a trend, it’s a moral choice for the well-being of our planet. The increasing popularity of solar power is supported by compelling environmental benefits that extend far beyond the immediate gratification of sustainable energy.
So, why not choose solar energy for your home? It’s not about just going for a renewable energy source, but showing how much you care for the environment.
If you’re considering installing solar panels in your home or your office, do it now to ensure a more sustainable tomorrow.
And the best part is- even if you get it installed through professional contractors, it’s only going to cost you a fraction of the money that you’ll be saving through bills in the long run anyways.
