Despite our best efforts to combat global climate change and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
Solar energy instead of coal or other fossil fuels to generate electricity can help reduce these emissions, leading to improved air quality, lower CO2 levels, and fewer health issues.
1. Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Installing solar panels on your home can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 times. That is because solar power produces fewer life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fossil fuel energy sources.
Solar power does not pollute the air or water like coal-fired electricity production does, and it can help you save money on utility bills as well.
2. Reduce Nitrogen Emissions
Solar energy is an ideal renewable power source, which can reduce emissions and enhance air quality. Conventional power plants burn fossil fuels such as coal to generate electricity, releasing gases that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Solar electricity generates 12 times less greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas and 20 times lower than coal when measured in grams of CO2 equivalents.
Solar panels also save a considerable amount of water. Traditional energy production methods require vast amounts of water for cooling or converting steam to turn turbines, which could damage local water supplies and add an additional burden to the environment.
Solar panels not only save water resources, but they have a minimal environmental impact during production. Many manufacturers have joined forces with the Sustainable Energy Industry Association (SEIA) to implement recycling programs that guarantee solar waste is properly handled and doesn’t end up in landfills.
3. Reduce Methane Emissions
Solar panels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional electricity sources, making them a crucial ally in the fight against climate change. In the United States alone, 28% of its carbon dioxide and methane emissions come from the electric power sector – making solar panels an effective way to reduce these.
Methane emissions are one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, having 84 times more global warming potential than CO2. Methane comes from various industries such as agriculture and waste disposal, but it’s particularly concentrated in oil and gas production.
Fortunately, there are multiple methods available to reduce methane emissions. Natural gas producers have begun developing protocols for completing new wells that capture methane gas that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.
This technology, which mimics the photosynthesis process used by green plants to make food, utilizes a copper-and-iron catalyst to break down water and carbon dioxide into methane and oxygen. It runs on electricity, potentially producing hydrocarbon fuels which would be carbon neutral.
4. Reduce Water Emissions
Solar power does not use water to generate electricity, which is an advantage of using this renewable resource. Furthermore, it does not pollute our waterways like fossil fuels do – another significant factor in lessening climate change’s effects.
According to a study, coal-fired power plants are responsible for 72 percent of water pollution in the United States. This includes heavy metal and sulfur water contamination.
Additionally, the mining industry plays a significant role in water quality degradation, particularly where coal is mined. This often exposes rocks that contain hazardous chemicals or toxins.
By switching to solar, homeowners can drastically reduce their water usage and pollution. Furthermore, they help safeguard their local water supply while conserving valuable natural resources essential for animals, plants, and humans alike.