Top 5 Environmental Benefits of Solar

Solar energy has quickly become one of the most popular forms of alternative energy, because it’s both clean and cost efficient. But what does that mean? Well, it’s cost efficient because the sun is a reliable, renewable resource that, when collected through solar panels, can power your home virtually at no cost. This saves you money on utilities, taxes, etc. But what exactly does it mean to be clean?

A clean resource is one that doesn’t create pollution, and solar energy is one of the only resources that truly fits into the category. In fact, environmental activist have been pushing for the expansion of solar technologies for years because of a few key benefits that make it stand out among the rest.

1. The sun is a constant resource – Apart from its rising and setting, the sun won’t disappear, at least not for a long time. This makes it both reliable and reusable, preventing the need for excavation and consumption of any physical resources on our planet, like coal.
2. There is an abundance of sun – Because the earth gets a lot of it, our potential for solar collection could actually surpass our energy needs hundreds of times over. Plus, there isn’t any dire need to soak up every last drop, because just a little goes a long way.
3. More solar means less dependency on pollution-causing resources – A single solar panel in use means over 170 pounds of coal are being spared from burning and our atmosphere is being spared a whopping 300 pounds of carbon dioxide.
4. Solar panels work anywhere – As long as they have a direct view of the sky, solar panels continue to collect solar energy even in cloudy and rainy weather. This means anywhere from the desert to the mountains to the rainforest, solar energy can be collected.
5. IT’S CLEAN! – The biggest point, and one worth reiterating, is that solar energy collection does not create pollution, and in fact, it reduces the need to make more pollution through tradition means. Along with wind, solar is growing to be the world’s most valuable source of renewable energy, and it’s helping to keep our planet clean one panel at a time.