It’s Earth Day Today! Everyone can do a little something to help protect our earth.
But what if you want to do more than a little? According to EnergySage, homeowners who go solar have the same impact as planting 150 trees every year that they use solar to power their home.
Considering that most solar panels last roughly 25 years, that’s the equivalent of 3,750 trees!
It’s true that not every homeowner going solar makes the switch to owning their power for environmental reasons. But at Purelight, we know many homeowners are still curious about how solar impacts the environment.
For Earth Day, we’ve compiled some of the blogs we’ve written for the curious.
Take a look below to learn more about solar and your personal carbon footprint, recycling solar, and options for choosing renewable energy at home!
Solar and Your Carbon Footprint
When you use a solar energy system for the first 5 years, you only emit about 50 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour. After that, the amount of CO2 you emit drops even more.
When compared to coal-fired power plants, solar panels have a 20-fold lower carbon footprint. Installing solar power at home can help you significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
If you live in Iowa, you might assume that your electricity is generated using relatively clean energy from the wind farms popping up around the state. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for the majority of the electricity used in the state. Iowa is still dependent on coal and natural gas-fired electric power plants for the majority of its energy needs.
Renting power through a utility company isn’t the only option for powering your home.
Many Montanans are taking it into their own hands to reduce carbon emissions by using clean energy methods such as solar. More solar in Montana means more clean energy jobs, and less mining that can destroy the natural beauty of Montana.
A home solar energy system means not only can you brag to friends about how easy it is being green, but you’ll make use of Oregon’s legally guaranteed net metering. Clean and way cheaper energy right on your rooftop? Yes please.
Read more about how solar can help reduce your carbon footprint in Oregon, Iowa, and Montana.
An All Electric Home Saves More Than Just Cash
Fracking, a term that has quickly entered most Americans’ vocabulary, is likely the top reason you can think of to not use natural gas.
It’s true that the process for extracting natural gas has serious risks including chemical spills, degradation of the water supply, and overuse of public water sources in areas already at risk for droughts.
Given that Iowa has worked hard to move into the #1 state in the US for renewable energy, it’s clear Iowans value energy sources that don’t cause undue harm to the environment and their communities.
Beyond the threat of negative impacts from fracking projects in the unique badlands of Montana, there are other lesser known issues with natural gas use in the home. A study from Rocky Mountain Institute and Physicians for Social Responsibility found that the simple act of using a gas stove can produce higher than safe levels of Nitrogen Dioxide.
Nitrogen Dioxide in the home has been linked to a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
The age-old argument for sticking with natural gas as a power source for your home appliances is to save money. However, Oregon homeowners are seeing rising natural gas prices again this year. The rising rates from providers like NW Natural Gas and Avista coupled with the efficiency of electric appliances means natural gas stops being the most obvious choice.
Read more about switching to an all electric home in Oregon, Iowa, and Montana.
Going Solar: Your Choice for Saving Green and Being Green
Comparing solar with fossil fuels is easy. Studies show that even taking into account all stages of a solar panel’s lifecycle, the carbon emissions associated with energy generation from solar are about 83% lower than those from coal and natural gas.
Not surprising given the nickname “dirty energy” used for coal and natural gas.
Solar panels can also be recycled and reused, which reduces their already low carbon emissions!
If you’re curious about how solar stacks up against other options for renewable energy, we have a blog for that as well.
Save With Solar Today
Already know you’re ready to save with solar?
You can find out how much you’ll save on energy costs with a professionally installed solar energy system from Purelight Power.
Get your customized solar energy system design and quote today. All it takes is a quick 30 second survey.
