Moving to clean sources of energy is without question the best way to help protect the environment. We have to take the necessary steps towards reducing the use air-polluting fossil fuels and do something about the greenhouse effect that is warming up our planet. It’s important to address the long-term impact produced by climate change and work on improving and maintaining the quality of not only the air but also our waterways. And solar panels are just the right solution to help us achieve that.

Why solar energy?

Put simply, solar energy is the cleanest and safest choice we currently have. Solar power can be used as a reliable option for a number of situations, ranging from powering your phone or laptop and heating your shower to generate electricity on large-scale solar farms. Instead of relying on water and nuclear energy to satisfy our needs for electric energy, we should instead focus more on creating utility-scale power plants that rely only on solar energy and reduce the risk of experiencing another nuclear fallout similar to that of the infamous Chernobyl disaster.

What causes air-pollution?

Currently, our main source of energy comes from burning fossil fuels. These include coal, crude oil, natural gas, tar sands and oil shales and are used to supply more than 80% of Australia’s growing energy needs. Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy, which means they cannot be replaced once they’re depleted. Biomass is fuel obtained from organic materials, such as lumber, manure and certain types of crops. Burning biomass and fossil fuels as a means to generate energy produces harmful carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as particulate matter containing black and organic carbon.

The greenhouse effect

Fossil fuel emissions and particulates get trapped in the atmosphere and lead to the formation of the greenhouse effect. Earth surface is warmed by the sun during the day and radiates part of that heat back into space during nighttime. Greenhouse gases prevent this heat from escaping and reflect it back at the surface. This increases the global temperature, including the temperature of our oceans and, can lead to abnormal weather patterns and drought, and can damage the sensitive marine ecosystem.

How does solar energy reduce air pollution?

Using solar panels to generate energy produces no greenhouse gases at all. This has such a major effect on our environment that the current solar capacity installed in the United States is estimated to offset a whopping 16.8 million metric tons of CO2. Air pollution in India is at such a high level that solar energy production has decreased by around 17% solely due to large amounts of carbon particulates deposited on the solar panels.

Do solar panels help in other ways?

Absolutely. Besides air pollution, solar energy reduces water pollution produced by coal-burning plants and the amount of hazardous and radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants. Additionally, solar panels improve your home’s energy efficiency and drastically reduce the monthly electricity bill. The majority of households can be completely covered by a 3kW solar system, however, larger households should consider installing a 5kW Solar System just to be safe. If your home is generating more energy than it requires, you can actually make a profit by selling the excess energy back to the grid.

the greenhouse effect. On the more practical side, solar panels can lower your home’s energy expenditure and significantly decrease your electricity and heating bills. Granted, switching to solar power is a big decision to make, but once you consider all the benefits it provides you will realize that this is going to be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.