Why Solar Power Is the Only Sustainable Energy Choice

Sustainable energy is defined by Wikipedia as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, and greenhouse gas emissions are among the top considerations. Energy sources defined as renewable, including wind, solar, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy, are generally considered to be a lot more sustainable than fossil fuels, and as such, are growing in popularity among home and business owners alike. Solar power is one of the most affordable and convenient ways for the average person to make a more sustainable energy choice and help do their bit to protect the environment. Did you know, that the sun produces as much energy in one day, as the entire world consumes in one year! To help you understand a bit more about solar power and why making the switch to this sustainable energy source is such a smart move, we’ve compiled a short fact file: How does solar energy work? Solar energy is converted directly into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) technology, without causing any harm to the environment whatsoever. Naturally, this can go a long way towards solving many of the modern world’s energy challenges. What are the advantages of solar power? Think about the sun as being an unlimited, totally clean, totally green and 100% safe energy source that you can access without causing any harm to you, or the environment around you. Not only that, but it enables you to become energy independent, without the need to rely on increasingly expensive and environmentally harmful fossil fuels. When you put it like that…it’s easy to understand why so many people are choosing to power their homes and businesses using only the sun’s rays. Solar power installation can be done on residential or industrial rooftops, to large power plants, and is capable of providing electricity for anyone, anywhere, whether they’re connected to the grid or not. Is the future of solar power, bright? Over the last decade, the average cost of solar PV systems has gone down by as much as 50%, in comparison to oil prices, which have increased by 36%. In some countries, the cost of generating PV power from rooftops is proving to be cheaper than buying power from the grid, and is set to become even more competitive around the world, for both residential and industrial markets. With the cost of solar systems going down, and the cost of electricity soaring exponentially, solar systems are proving to be a truly competitive energy source, and that isn’t set to change, anytime soon. If you haven’t yet made the switch to solar but would like to know more, reach out to a local solar power company, and start doing your bit to make the world a greener, healthier and more sustainable place for everyone.