Environmental Benefits
Installing solar on your home or business helps to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for all of us. Check out some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar below!
Reduced Air Pollution
The lifecycle emissions of a solar system, meaning all the emissions generated from the manufacturing of the panels to the end of their life, are incredibly small compared to that of fossil fuels. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, the lifecycle emissions per kWh of electricity produced by rooftop solar arrays are 20 times less than electricity produced by coal and 12 times less than electricity produced by natural gas. This reduction in harmful emissions that comes from switching to solar is not only good for human health, but it also helps to reduce our contribution to climate change.
Water may not be the first thing you think of when you think about electricity generation, but electricity production is one of the major drivers of water stress around the world. Non-renewable sources of energy like oil, coal, and natural gas use large amounts of water compared to renewable resources like solar. Additionally, fossil fuel production poses the risk of causing environmental damage through events like oil spills, pipeline ruptures, and even just everyday runoff from cars.
Oftentimes mining and material use are seen as downfalls on the environmental impact of solar energy. Mining for elements like silicon and aluminum which are used in manufacturing modules is environmentally problematic and is something that needs to be improved upon in the future. However, when you look at mining and material use of the fossil fuel industry, it is easy to see that solar is the more sustainable option. According to the International Energy Agency, approximately 15 billion tons of coal, oil, and natural gas are mined each year, whereas in 2020, solar manufacturing only extracted approximately 750,000 tons of minerals.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, noise pollution has been linked to many different illnesses and adversely affects the lives of millions of people. Unlike fossil fuel power plants which generate high volumes of noise, solar is virtually noiseless, contributing to a healthier world for all.
Get Started on Solar with Halo Solar Today!
If you're interested in adding solar to your home, we invite you to download our Glossary of Solar Terms. In it you'll learn the critical information that contribute to a solar purchase decision.
By going solar, you can reduce the demand for fossil fuels, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and shrink your own carbon footprint. Just one home installing a solar energy system has a measurable effect on the environment.