Is Solar a Green Energy Source?

As a green energy source there are many reasons to add solar power to your home or company. You can generate your own electricity and save money on your local utility. With rising electricity prices, and the warmer summers forecast, solar is the best option to secure decades of predictable energy costs.

The environmental benefits of solar are just as compelling. Because Arizona utilities get most of their electricity from dirty sources like coal, nuclear, and natural gas, solar installation is an attractive way to make a difference and save money.

Don’t limit yourself to the dollar amount if you are considering solar for your home or business. You should also consider these four eco-friendly benefits.

Is Solar a Green Energy Source?

1. Going solar will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions

Arizona’s average home uses just 13,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. A modestly-sized solar energy system could reduce this number by as much as 80%, while others can reach 100%. Even at these levels, solar has a significant environmental impact. A solar energy system can produce just 80% of an average home’s annual energy needs over twenty years. It will also offset the CO2 emissions of more than 150,000 pounds of coal or 45 tons of landfill waste. *

2. You can drive on the sun with an electric vehicle (EV).

Driving an electric car is a lot more convenient than driving a traditional car. An EV will offset 100% of the harmful C02 emissions from a traditional vehicle. Many people are unaware that if an EV is charged from a non-solar house, it will simply transfer the cost of electricity from the gas pump to the monthly utility bill. Properly designed solar energy systems will power both your home and your car, while also helping to offset the “dirty electricity” you would otherwise have to buy from your utility.

3. Solar reduces water pollution

Although this one is less obvious, it is one of the greatest environmental benefits of solar. Although all manufacturing processes require water, even thoseQuote_Keeping_the_Change.png that are used to make solar panel panels, the amount of water required to produce solar electricity is significantly less than other electricity sources. For cooling purposes, older technologies like nuclear, natural gas and coal-fired plants all require large amounts of water. Solar energy poses almost no risk to local water resources. It also doesn’t compete with local drinking systems or agriculture for water.

4. Solar reduces the strain on finite resources

The global population will continue growing, but the Earth has limited oil, coal and natural gas reserves. The sun is the most abundant source of energy on Earth, producing 173,000 terawatts per second. This is more than 10,000 times the global total energy consumption, and it’s always available. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are extremely polluting and non-renewable. They will either disappear at some point or be too costly to extract for the rest of us. The resulting environmental damage and financial strain may be irreparable if we don’t make changes. Going solar is the best option to protect yourself from the reality of diminishing resources.

Going solar is like saving the earth and keeping the money. It’s the best home improvement investment you can make that will have a tangible and immediate impact on the environment, as well as putting money back in your pocket once it’s activated.

Swytch for the better with SolarSwytch

Poonam K

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