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The article discusses the environmental benefits of solar panels and emphasizes the importance of renewable energy sources in combating climate change. It outlines five ways solar panels positively impact the environment, including reducing air pollution, water pollution, dependence on fossil fuels, hazardous waste, and chemical spills, as well as reducing climate change.

Solar panels are described as a clean and natural source of power that converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. The article also highlights the practical benefits of solar panels, such as saving energy costs, providing reliable backup power, and being modular and versatile in their applications. It encourages individuals to switch to solar energy to reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the environment.

Introduction

We live in a society that’s fast becoming ever-more concerned with our impact on the environment. Today, people worldwide realize that a healthy, safer planet depends on our actions. 

So, it’s no surprise that many people choose the eco-friendly benefits of solar energy. Yet, why are solar panels good for the environment? How do solar panels affect the environment?

In our ultimate eco-guide to solar panels, we’ll find answers to all of your burning questions and more!

5 Ways That Solar Panels Save the Environment

At Shop Solar Kits, we’re staunch advocates of solar power. You can almost say that solar power runs in our veins. We’ve learned a lot of facts about solar panels.

With our years of experience, we’re privileged enough to see solar panels’ impact on the environment. 

We’ve learned that there are 5 main ways that solar panels positively impact the environment during our time. Here’s how solar panels impact the environment.

Solar Panels Reduce Air Pollution

Most air pollution comes from fossil fuels that we burn to generate electricity. Burning these fossil fuels releases thick smog and dirty air that’s bad for our environment. 

Not only is air pollution terrible for aesthetics, but it’s also bad for our health.

We release several greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide when we burn fossil fuels. These greenhouse gasses are considerable health risks.

The World Health Organization reports that air pollution alone accounts for up to 4.2 million deaths globally every year. 

In sharp contrast, solar panels don’t contribute to air pollution. When solar panels generate electricity, they don’t release any harmful gasses or nasty air pollutants.

Suppose more people choose to use solar panels. In that case, it’ll directly impact the amount of air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.

Fewer fossil fuels need to be burned, meaning cleaner, healthier air for everybody.

Solar Panels Reduce Water Pollution

It’s not just cleaner air that we’ll enjoy when more people decide to use solar panels.

Hydroelectric power and even nuclear power are far cleaner than burning fossil fuels. The sad truth is that both require enormous amounts of water to generate electricity.

You also need to construct a dam to store and control the water flow to ensure efficient power production. 

This dam often harms the immediate environment as it destroys the natural habitats of countless animals and plant species.

On the other hand, solar panels generate electricity without water. So, more water gets saved as more people turn towards solar energy.

In fact, the US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports that solar power could significantly drop water consumption in 36 states. 

Solar Panels Reduce Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels

We’ve all heard about the negative impact of our dependence on fossil fuels. Not only do fossil fuels contribute to air pollution, but the limited supply of these resources has caused countless wars.

Unlike non-renewable energy sources, such as oil, coal, and other fossil fuels, solar panels provide a renewable, almost limitless energy source.

In fact, our sun produces 173,000 terawatts of solar energy every second. 

If we can capture only an hour of the sun’s energy output, we could power every household, building, and device on Earth for more than a year.

Solar panels do precisely this. They capture the sun’s immense energy and convert it into electricity that we can use to power various devices.

When more people decide to use solar panels, our dependence on fossil fuels will shrink. We’ll end up saving the environment and ourselves.

Solar Panels Reduce Hazardous Waste and Chemical Spills

A common issue with traditional power sources is the potential hazards. These hazards can be challenging to prevent and clean up from oil and chemical spills to nuclear radiation and more.

Power companies typically dispose of these hazards in abandoned mine shafts and ever-growing landfills or bury them deep underground. 

By doing this, these companies put the environment and the health of people living near these places in danger.

Luckily, solar panels don’t have any hazardous chemicals or waste. So, solar panels are much safer and friendlier to the environment.

Suppose you need to dispose of your solar panels. In that case, most of the parts can be recycled, effectively lowering your carbon footprint and your impact on the environment.

Solar Panels Reduce Climate Change

Since we’re so dependent on burning fossil fuels for power and even altering the landscape to store and control water flow, we’re inevitably changing the Earth’s climate.

Our continued obsession with these traditional fuels means we’re constantly pumping more carbon dioxide and harmful gasses into the atmosphere.

Here these greenhouse gasses degrade the ozone and trap heat in the atmosphere. The result is known as global warming. 

As the Earth gets hotter, weather patterns start to change. Storms become more severe, and the natural environment struggles to cope with these changes.

Scientists and climatologists from all over the world agree that we need to shift to renewable energy sources to reduce climate change.

Luckily, solar energy is one such renewable energy source that’s excellent at helping us combat climate change. 

Since solar panels don’t produce any harmful gasses or pollutants, we can lower our carbon footprint. By reducing your carbon footprint, you end up helping the environment by using a naturally sourced renewable energy source.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Like this 200 W monocrystalline solar panel, solar panels generate a clean, natural source of power by converting sunlight into electricity. Inside every solar panel, we find special solar cells. 

These solar cells are known as Photovoltaic cells. Simply put, it means that when sunlight hits the solar cell, it releases a stream of electrons that in turn generate electric current.

A solar panel is a frame filled with several connected solar cells. The more solar panels you connect together, the more sunlight they capture and the more electricity they generate.

We use batteries for storing energy from solar panels for use later. Since batteries store direct current (DC), we need to connect an inverter. 

The inverter is responsible for changing the current from DC to alternating current (AC). Most of our household appliances use AC current. 

Solar panels can produce clean electricity from the sun, replace the power from your electric company or generator, and eliminate pollution!

Less pollution isn’t the only benefit of using solar panels.

Benefits of Solar Panels

Solar panels are an impressive technological wonder. Here are some of our favorite benefits of having solar panels installed:

You Save Energy Costs

One of the most significant advantages of solar panels is that you’ll end up saving costs. Since solar energy is naturally available, it’s also free energy!

You can store some solar energy to use during peak hours when electricity is more expensive.

Another option is to go off-grid with a system like this one. You can finally say goodbye to paying for electricity ever again.

You Have Reliable Backup Power

Unlike traditional power sources, solar energy is readily available and easy to store. So, in case of an emergency, if there’s a blackout or natural disaster, you can continue to use solar energy.

Today, many people use solar systems as a reliable backup power supply. 

When you have a solar power system in your house, your family doesn’t have to sit in the dark and wait for the power to come back on. 

Most modern solar panels can supply your home with reliable electricity through all manner of weather conditions.

You Can Start Small

Most solar systems are entirely modular. Being modular means you can slowly grow and improve your solar power system. 

So, you could start small with a single solar panel, inverter, and battery, then as your budget and ambitions grow, you can build up your solar system.

You don’t need a massive budget to start benefiting from solar power by doing this. Buying your first solar kit can cost as little as $550.

You Can Use Them Anywhere

Solar panels can be used for providing cabins, campsites, and even your RV with reliable power. 

Many eco-conscious landlords have installed solar panels to lower their property’s carbon footprint.

Even schools, government, and small businesses have embraced the shift over to solar power. You can join this movement and help make the world a cleaner, safer place for everyone.

You Help the Environment

Of course, another benefit of using solar panels is the fact that you’ll be saving the environment. 

Since solar panels are eco-friendly, reliable, and produce no harmful pollutants, you can lower your carbon footprint and help save the environment. 

Like the environmentalist, Sir David Attenborough famously said, “It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”

When you switch to clean, renewable energy, such as solar energy, you will be doing your part to look after the environment.

Make a Difference with Us

As you can tell, at Shop Solar Kits, we’re passionate about solar energy and the environment. We want to partner with you to help the environment.

We believe that renewable solar energy plays a massive role in making the world a cleaner, healthier place for everyone.

If you need any assistance in getting started with your solar energy journey, get in touch with us!

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