Fossil fuels are solely responsible for our massive global pollution epidemic. It's time for an energy revolution.
Does solar power really have the ability to change the environment? Can it really be the renewable energy source that leads us into a self-sustainable future?
When you look at all the modern, industrial skyline and see factories with smokestacks billowing pollution into the air, one thing comes to mind.
Something has got to change…
Our planet’s desperate state is a result of human practice, and fossil fuels stand at the very center of this debacle.
Fossil fuels drive our everyday lifestyle, and they have been clearly identified as the major contributor towards our global pollution problem. Pollution of the air, water and soil requires millions of years to recoup, and climate change is only the beginning of a the planet’s natural process to correct the balance of nature.
The war between traditional, finite energy sources versus cleaner, renewable energy nevertheless wages on, but with green energy experiencing a boom like never before, the scales may just have tipped.
Millions have turned to solar power as a means of not only getting off the grid, but combating global warming too.
If you’re still not convinced, consider the following…
Traditional fossil fuels must be firstly be located, then excavated and lastly transported before they can even be utilized.
The practice of mining coal and everything related to this industry, for example, releases a tremendous amount of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
Coal accounts for 1,562 metric tons, or 76% of America’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Acid mine drainage and coal sludge pollutes rivers and streams while mountaintop removal from this mining practice causes severe erosion. These processes are very necessary for the excavation, but it is extremely invasive and detrimental to the environment.
Excavating fossil fuels literally leads to the destruction of entire eco-systems.
Mass industry is not the only culprit, however.
The average household uses about 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. This generates roughly 14,976 pounds of carbon every year. Combine that with every home in America, and it becomes hard to imagine the bigger picture with such large numbers confronting you.
Electricity generated from solar panels, on the other hand, produce zero carbon emissions.
There is no actual fuel involved, and the sun produces all the energy you will ever need. Solar clearly limits the negative impact your own household has on the environment, and this is indeed why it has become so important to utilize renewable energy like solar power for homes across the world.
With solar you are able to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by as much as 14 tons in only 2 years!
Imagine every household, and the impact this can have over a lifetime, when CO2 emissions are reduced on such large scale.
If solar is nurtured correctly we are truly able to reverse the damage already done to our planet.
Relying on the traditional energy markets means that your fuel costs remain closely tied to world events. Unrest in any part of the world has the ability to quickly drive up your monthly costs.
Simply put, solar is more predictable and more dependable than fossil fuels, and you will no longer be subject to unstable and unpredictable fuel price increases.
With the installation of an average 3-7kW solar system, you will immediately reduce your dependence on the forever shifting world markets. In fact, by going green you are able to lock in your
solar power cost for the next 25 years!
Reliability has become a real challenge to the existing grid’s infrastructure.
This is mainly due to its age, and some parts of the grid are older than 100 years!
Roughly 70% of the current power lines and transformers have been in use for over 25 years, and more than 60% of the existing circuit breakers connected to the grid are older than 30 years.
It’s no wonder that the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) rated America’s energy infrastructure, including the power grid, a “D+” in 2013.
The existing grid system is also subjected to extra stress from several other factors, including climate change. Climate change, directly linked to fossil fuel consumption, is the reason behind more extreme weather conditions, with summers being hotter, winters being colder, storms being more severe, and energy cost ultimately soaring.
The utility industry is destined to spend billions of dollars if they are to update the current grid system for long-term sustainability, yet it remains a mathematical certainty that we will have to make use of renewable energy for a sustainable future.
When comparing bills from your utility company to the actual cost for converting, the reasons why solar power panels are a viable option becomes evident.
Solar technology offers an unlimited supply of energy with a system that will inevitably pay for itself.
Solar is currently growing faster than the American economy, so the argument that making the transition to renewable energy will cost the economy jobs simply isn’t true.
The Solar Foundation, an independent nonprofit solar research and education organization, released a their annual National Solar Jobs Census in 2015.
This report clearly indicated that the solar industry is creating jobs faster than the American economy.
Traditional ways of producing electricity are clearly becoming redundant.
The negative impact on the environment cannot be reversed unless we start utilizing renewable energy on mass scale. For now it would seem that America is headed in the right direction, but we are still a long way off reversing the damage already done.
Solar power has, however, already made a measurable impact in counteracting the effects of pollution, and while the initial cost of installing a new PV system can represent a significant investment, there are plenty of government incentives and tax rebates, alongside $0 down leasing options, to take advantage of.
These are all aimed at making solar power systems more accessible to the average homeowner.
Solar is the front-runner in the renewable energy market, and it has clearly proven to be the most economical, eco-friendly solution to relieve any household of their grid dependency.
It’s up to us to take the responsibility and make the necessary changes to ensure a greener tomorrow for future generations.
If you are ready to start saving money with an eco-friendly solution, it may be time to start comparing solar quotes from certified installers in your area today.
To get up to four, 100% FREE, no-obligation solar panel estimates, add your zip in the area provided.
Sally Blakeway
