The low environmental impact, zero carbon emissions, and monthly cost-saving benefits of solar energy are some of the factors that motivate businesses and households around the world to adopt solar power for electricity generation.
But despite its popularity and multiple advantages, a large majority of people are still sceptical about installing solar PV systems on their roofs and relying entirely on the sun’s power to generate electricity. This could be due to the upfront costs involved in solar panel installation and the misconceptions surrounding solar energy.
If you’re wondering whether you should switch to solar, don’t just think about the dollars, but also consider the long-term environmental benefits of solar energy.
1. Using Solar Energy Reduces Air Pollution
Clean, unpolluted air is in limited supply and our world continues to become increasingly polluted with each passing day due to development and human activity. Air pollution is harmful to the body and may lead to respiratory problems or even life-threatening conditions in the long run. It is also detrimental to our ecosystem and may damage our natural environment.
An easy way for businesses and households to contribute positively to our environment is to actively switch to using solar energy. This is because solar energy is a zero-emission energy source that does not produce pollutants. In contrast, powering buildings and homes with fossil fuels produces emissions such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide, all of which result in air pollution and global warming.
By using solar power, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants released into the atmosphere decreases. As a result, air quality improves, allowing us to breathe cleaner and healthier air. According to research done by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), switching to solar power results in fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, respiratory, and cardiovascular problems.
2. Using Solar Energy Reduces Strain on Finite Resources
Fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas are common energy sources that have been powering the world for decades. Although there appears to be an abundance of fossil fuels available for our use, these resources are non-renewable energy sources that will deplete as global demand for them grows.
Using solar energy can conserve these resources; the sun is Earth’s most abundant source of energy, producing up to 173,000 terawatts of solar energy per second, which amounts to approximately 10,000 times the world’s combined energy usage. And the best thing is, it will never run out. By switching to solar energy, we reduce our dependence on finite resources while contributing to an emission-free world.
3. Using Solar Energy Fights Climate Change
Greenhouse gases are known to be the leading cause of climate change and global warming because they trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and prevent it from dispersing into space.
When fossil fuels are used to generate electricity, copious amounts of these harmful greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. But, if we ramp up the adoption of solar power and replace fossil fuels with solar energy, these emissions can be reduced to help combat climate change. According to the NREL, producing electricity using a solar panel with a projected 28 years of operation can cut emissions significantly by more than 100 tons. In the long run, this reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can slow global warming effects.
4. Reduces water pollution
Aside from the greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere annually, power stations that generate electricity from fossil fuels need large amounts of water for process-related operations and to cool down systems. This produces wastewater containing tonnes of toxic metals, which is usually pumped back into the groundwater, polluting water sources.
On the contrary, solar power is capable of generating electricity without water and, hence, will not pollute our waters with toxic substances.
Choosing solar is akin to saving the planet and propelling our country toward an environmentally friendly future. In fact, it is likely the only change that businesses and households can make to have an immediate and measurable impact on the environment. Many electricity providers in Singapore do not offer environmentally friendly power, it’s time to switch to solar energy to protect our environment. Get in touch with us today to find out how you can play your part.