Solar power has an immediate, positive impact on your quality of life (think lower bills!), but don’t forget some of the far-reaching impacts choosing renewable energy can have on your home and community!
Owning your own solar panel system means cleaner air for Southern Arizona
One of the best ways to have an impact on the health of your community is to go solar with your home or business! Solar power adoption is key to cleaner air in your community. When more people and businesses go solar, as is the case in Southern Arizona, people in Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sahuarita, and Vail are all benefitting directly from solar power.
Keep in mind that solar power helps reduce not only greenhouse emissions, but other pollutants that are dangerous for our health. This includes sulfur, nitrogen, and other small particulate material you wouldn’t want to breathe— yuck!
Solar power accounts for a HUGE reduction in the amount of both greenhouse gases and these other pollutants. It’s estimated to have saved the U.S. $890 million in reduced negative health impacts alone.
New homes have higher occurrences of Indoor Pollutants. Solar can help solve the problem
Today’s new homes are notable since they are much more efficient than older homes, but this efficiency can have unintended consequences. Modern homes are often so airtight, they can trap indoor pollution that can have negative health effects. These are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and can be ten times worse than outdoor pollution.
Going solar and maintaining natural light through the home are two smart ways to reduce the incidence of this type of pollution. Take a look at this Panasonic publication for the top ways to build a healthier home, and read more here. Sunbright Solar is Southern Arizona’s Only Premium Installation Partner for Panasonic Solar panels.
Generating your own solar power puts you in charge, and makes sure your money isn’t wrongly invested into dirty energy
Many of our local power companies rely on old, polluting technologies for the majority of their power generation, even as they promote their limited renewable energy options.
Owning your own solar panel system means a bigger impact on the health of your community— not to mention you’re the one profiting from creating extra solar power, not the electric company.
Water pollution and waste is a common, lesser known negative impacts from using dirty energy
Water is essential for life, especially in the desert Southwest. Yet when we consider the impact of our energy choices, we may not realize how directly dirty forms of energy can impact our community water resources.
While manufacturing photovoltaic panels does consume water, solar panel installations are passive and draw from the power of the sun with no water use or impact whatsoever after they are installed.
Contrast that with the huge amounts of water a conventional power plant uses day in, day out. To power just one home for a day, a power plant running on coal uses 199 gallons of water, and a plant running on natural gas uses 114 gallon of water.
At the end of the day, our energy choices have real impact on many levels. Choosing solar has immediate benefits for each of us personally, and it’s also comforting to know that the long-reaching effects of going solar are just as positive.
Sources:
https://healthcareinamerica.us/solar-power-good-for-the-environment-and-human-health-6061a20f5117
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160518165257.htm
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/renewable-energy-saves-water-and-creates-jobs/?redirect=1
Recent Comments