Environmental Benefits
Solar energy is one of the most sustainable and cleanest forms of energy available to us today, making it the perfect alternative energy source, offering environmental benefits that most traditional sources can never hope to offer.
Sunlight is freely available to us all – there are no taxes on receiving sunlight. Stand outside in the sun and no-one will send you a bill for enjoying the benefits!
But energy generation today continues to rely on the same technologies that were developed when natural resources were plentiful and inexpensive. Some of these have relatively low impact on the the environment, for example hydro-electric power and geo-thermal power generation, but most others contribute to various levels of pollution.
Unfortunately, in many countries, and this includes the USA, energy generation is predominantly based on non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal (almost 50% of electricity generation) and natural gas. A report from the US Government Energy Information Administration with early 2009 details on US power generation and sources is available here.
Apart from the finite resources available for generation from coal and natural gas methods, both methods contribute to pollution. Coal fired power stations, that currently provide the majority of the world’s total energy generation, are by far the worst polluters of the environment, despite that technology has developed to help to reduce that environmental damage from new modern plants. Your Home Solar Energy understands that despite those new technologies, that some experts state that it is impossible to use to coal fired power stations without some damage to the environment!
Read here an article based on a 2007 report on the environmental state of coal fired power plants in the USA. This shows that coal fired power plants create significant levels of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and mercury. The report was prepared by the non-profit Environmental Integrity Project, a group created by former US Government Environmental Protection Agency enforcement attorneys, so their credentials must be respected.
The third highest contributor to US power generation is nuclear power. Modern nuclear power plants are generally regarded as efficient and safe, and most important of all, non polluting from a climate change and global warming perspective. However, there are environmental risks in transporting nuclear fuels at their various stages of processing, as well as the problem of what to do with the waste nuclear fuel rods. As long as these nuclear materials, specially the waste, remain securely contained, then everything will be ok. Of course, it takes a very very long time for it to become safe, and in that time the total amount could be huge, although it is always possible that future technology could make use of the waste and reprocess it to make it safe.
Solar and wind energy sources create no pollution!
Arguably the greatest issue regarding use of these methods for large scale power generation is the large land areas required for solar panel arrays or wind turbine ‘wind farms,’ and the resulting negative impact on the landscape. But changing to these alternative energy strategies still provides for huge environmental benefits!
The USA is currently the world’s largest generator of energy from wind farms, which has to be commended. Unfortunately though, that output is only 1% of the US energy total. Spain produces over 20% of it’s energy requirements from alternative energy. China, while continuing to increase coal fired energy generation, is also building huge wind farms plus investing massive amounts into the development of solar energy, in order to ensure its future energy security as well the environmental benefits.
One of the things that we can do as individuals to make a difference, is to take steps to have a more energy efficient home and lifestyle, to reduce demand on current energy supplies.
Now learn about how Solar Panels can make a difference for your home!
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