Do you and your family want to move towards an environmentally friendly home? Many of you may not be aware of the benefits of renewable energy.
Green energy is the future.
It’s good for your wallet. It’s good for the environment. And it provides a sense of security knowing that you are doing your part to help protect our planet. We all know that we need to do something about climate change, so why not start with ourselves?
Intrigued? Let’s explore this further.
Defining Benefits Of Renewable Energy
Before we begin talking about benefits, it’s vital to first talk a little more about what renewable or green energy is. Put; this term refers to clean forms of power generation. These are resources that do not emit greenhouse gases or other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Renewable energy comes from natural resources such as wind, water, and sunlight and is also called “clean energy” or “green power.”
They use resources that are constantly replenished, as opposed to the finite amount of fossil fuels available. These forms of energy generation do not deplete over time, and they are much less harmful to the environment than traditional power plants.
One of the critical advantages of renewable energy is that it reduces the chance of environmental issues caused by mining or other damaging extraction methods.
How Does Green Energy Work?
Power plants create the electricity that we get from the grid. These facilities rely on one of two different methods:
- Fossil Fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum)
- Renewable Energy (solar panels and wind turbines)
Renewable energy generation devices can be tied into our existing systems as a failover, a supplementary energy source, or off-the-grid living.
Shining a Light on Solar Panels
The sun is our top source of renewable energy made possible with solar panels, of which there are two main types.
Those with blue polycrystalline cells are a less efficient but more affordable option. Panels made of monocrystalline crystals have black cells and are more expensive, but they offer a higher conversion efficiency. When sunlight hits these specialized cells, electricity is created. The generated power is then fed into your home or business for use.
One report notes that by mid-2021,
Interest in Wind Turbines Grows Stronger Each Day
Homeowners interested in renewable sources of power generation also have the prospect of wind technology. Wind turbines are growing more popular each year as technology allows for smaller, cheaper, and more efficient wind turbines in residential areas.
The amount of wind electricity generated in the past 30 years has increased significantly. Technology advances have made wind energy cheaper. Plus, government incentives in the U.S. and other countries have encouraged its growth.
In 2020, the U.S. generated about 338 billion kilowatt-hours of wind energy, compared to about 6 billion kilowatt-hours in 2000. Green energy equates to approximately 8.4% of all utility-scale electricity in the U.S.
Key Benefits of Green Energy
Highlighting the types of green energy options available has undoubtedly uncovered some of the critical benefits of sustainable energy.
The Energy You Need
By using renewable energy sources to generate electricity, you reduce the need for fossil fuels. You will have consistent, reliable access to energy without needing to worry about price surges caused by natural disasters or foreign market fluctuations.
Green Energy Saves Money
If you switch over from traditional electricity generation methods, you can save money each month on your power bill. Some have opted to use energy monitors to track energy use in their homes. These quickly show the financial benefits of clean energy. Why pay more when there is a better way?
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The benefits of clean energy do not end there. When you switch to green power, you will also be reducing your carbon footprint and helping us reach our goal of net zero emissions by the year 2050.
Weather patterns are shifting with increases in drought, hurricanes, and storms. These effects are happening everywhere and a simple rain gauge can call attention to the changes as close as your backyard
Reduce Environmental Impact
Apart from the pollutants produced by fossil fuels, the methods used in their extraction pose extra problems.
Coal mining has notable environmental impacts. Often it requires the removal of a significant amount of topsoil, which could lead to erosion, loss of habitat, and pollution. Additionally, acid mine drainage dissolves heavy metals, which seep into groundwater and surface water.
Natural gas extraction projects can devastate local ecosystems. It can disrupt migration patterns, pollute rivers and streams, and cause erosion of soil.
“Fracking” for oil or gas can poison groundwater. It can pollute surface water, deteriorate wild landscapes, and endanger wildlife. In addition, fracking is linked to causing earthquakes in unexpected places like Oklahoma and Texas.
We can steadily reduce the occurrence of these ecological tragedies by switching to renewable energy sources.
Take the Next Step Towards Green Energy
The benefits of renewable energy are difficult to ignore, and it is undoubtedly the future for residential and commercial use. Perhaps you can’t yet make the switch and go completely “off-grid.” But, you can still make incremental moves toward supplementing your energy supply with green options.
We have made it our mission to assist and educate our neighbors in the field of sustainability. Knowledge is power, and we’re constantly offering information on the great reasons to use renewable energy.
We want to encourage you to reach out to us with questions or suggestions about this critical topic. Check out some of our other blog posts as well.
