Solar energy is a growing segment of our power generation mix, and it will play an important role in the future of energy production. Producing power with solar panels has two big advantages over fossil fuels: it is both renewable and cost-effective.
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Four videos about the benefits of solar energy
Do you need to convince a naysayer about why they should go solar? Here are four videos you can pass on to inform friends about some of the important benefits of solar panel systems.
Continue readingSolar electricity vs. fossil fuels: how do they compare?
If you’ve been following the ongoing battle between solar energy vs. fossil fuels, it might seem like the predominant resources on which the global economy depends – oil, coal and natural gas – will be completely phased out of existence in the near future. In reality, these resources still power most of the planet, while renewable resources like solar and wind only contribute some two to three percent of global energy capacity. This reality check begs the following question: how does solar really stack up against fossil fuels, and why is there so much excitement about the growth of solar?
Continue readingWhat is my carbon footprint? Calculating CO2 impact
In an age of global climate change, people around the world are looking for ways to reduce their share of the approximately 15 trillion pounds of greenhouse gases emitted each year. In the United States, one of the top three polluters in the world, many Americans are looking into home energy solutions like energy efficient upgrades and solar installations. However, for some homeowners, the first question is “what is my carbon footprint, and what are the biggest contributing factors?” In this article we’ll answer the following questions:
- What lifestyle choices influence my carbon footprint?
- How do I calculate my own carbon footprint?
- What are the best ways to reduce my carbon footprint?
What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
For the vast majority of the world, fossil fuels continue to be the primary source of energy production. More and more, however, renewable technologies like solar energy are rivaling the potential of traditional fossil fuels. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the disadvantages of fossil fuels, and why the future of energy likely won’t rely on these energy sources.
Continue readingThe environmental impacts of solar energy
Solar energy is a win-win: in addition to its significant financial benefits, going solar is also great for the environment. When your solar panels generate electricity, they produce zero emissions, which means they don’t contribute to climate change or health issues like more traditional sources of energy. They also draw their energy from the sun, an abundant resource that will be available and accessible across the world for the foreseeable future. All that said, what you may not realize is that there is actually an environmental impact of solar energy too.
Continue readingAre solar panels toxic to the environment?
For many homeowners, one of the primary motives for going solar is to have a positive impact on the environment. When you use solar energy in your home, you lower your overall greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide, and you reduce your carbon footprint.
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