Whether it’s been an increase in serious storms, droughts, or air pollution, you are probably concerned about the Earth’s environment.  Like many people, you may be considering making the switch to solar energy for your home or business in Texas.  If you are and wonder just how converting to solar will help to protect the environment, here are some benefits you should keep in mind.

Reducing Air Pollution

When fossil fuels go into the air and build up over time, the result is air pollution.  If you’ve been to such states as California or New York, or even overseas to China, you’ve seen just how devastating smog and other types of air pollution can be on the environment and people’s health.  By going solar, you’ll be relying on a clean energy source that eliminates fossil fuels and the resulting smog.

Less CO2 Emissions

Unfortunately, the Earth’s ozone layer has a hole in it that keeps getting bigger.  As more CO2 emissions are released, the planet’s climate is changing.  Thus, some places are hotter, cooler, drier, or wetter, leading to floods, Arctic ice melting, and much more. Solar energy can fight this, since it can work to lessen the effects of climate change that, in the near future, may become irreversible.

Reduce Dependence on Nonrenewable Energy Sources

When you go solar, you’ll be playing a big part in helping to reduce your dependence on energy sources that are nonrenewable, such as oil.  While many people don’t like to admit it, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and others will at some point run out here on Earth.  By going solar, you protect the environment by improving air quality and aiding in the transition to renewable energy sources.

Reducing Water Usage

While using fossil fuels as energy sources may not use a tremendous amount of water, that can’t be said for other types of energy sources, especially hydropower and nuclear energy.  While you may not think much about it when you pass by a dam, the fact is building most dams greatly impacts the nearby ecosystem.  As for nuclear energy, experts continue to debate its safety, as well as what to do with the hazardous waste it produces.

To demonstrate how going solar would reduce water usage, a study done by the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy determined that a significant shift to solar energy would reduce water consumption in as many as 36 states.

Protect the Environment and Improve Humanity’s Health

Consider that going solar will improve the environment’s health and our own health at the same time.  In fact, the study mentioned above also found that by relying more on solar energy and other clean energy sources, air pollution would improve to the point that as many as 25,000 lives could be saved.

Creating New Jobs

As solar energy becomes more popular, this would lead to the creation of many new industries and jobs.  By doing so, it could result in an entirely new way of performing manufacturing tasks that would not require large amounts of CO2 being released into the air from factories and other facilities. In the end, it would be a win-win situation for everyone.

Utilizing state-of-the-art technology in their design, construction, and installation, solar panels are looking more and more like the clean energy source that may one day save Earth and those of us on the planet from weather extremes and other disasters.  By doing your part today and taking advantage of the many tax breaks available to those who opt for solar energy, the world around you will thank you in more ways than you can imagine when you protect the environment.

 

Now that you know how to protect the environment by going solar, find out how it can positively affect your wallet.