If you have read the news over the past couple of years then you are probably aware of how global warming is affecting all living beings. From destroying the ozone layer to causing an increase in temperature, the effects that global warming has is truly something to watch and be afraid of.
Therefore, have you been asking yourself how can you prevent global warming? What is it that you need to do in order to stop global warming? Then you have come to the right place.
You can start by doing small to intermediate things on your daily life that will have a big impact on your future, for example, using alternative sources of energy such as solar panels.
Continue reading and find out how solar panels help global warming:
Why is the Ozone Layer Important?
Before you understand why and how solar panels help to protect the earth, you need to understand what the ozone layer is all about.
The ozone layer acts as a shield in the stratosphere of earth. What happens is that the excess ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun is reflected by this layer. Without this protection life on earth would be impossible to strive.
So the ozone layer only lets through around 70% of the ultraviolet radiation that the sun produces thus this will be the amount of solar radiation that reaches the atmosphere. What’s surprising about this is the fact that the 70% of the radiation that is provided by the sun is enough to create heat and light which, in turn, helps with the existence of living beings on earth.
The ozone layer is also composed of something called the Greenhouse Gases (GHG). These gases act as a shield as well by reflecting the UV radiation through its layers. It also helps the earth to have the right atmosphere, so it makes some places hot enough to exist while other places are cold enough to exist. This process is called the Greenhouse Effect and it has happened since the beginning of the earth’s existence.
Thus if the GHG start appearing in higher numbers here on the earth, global warming will continue to occur. But what happens when the temperature of the planet rises? Ice in both poles will melt away, which, in turn, means the water levels will rise as well, creating floods all over the world.
However, global warming affects places differently. Some areas will be covered in water while other areas will have severe droughts which also means less productive lands and crops.
How do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels obtain the energy that is released from the sun, it is as simple as that. This energy is free and it doesn’t produce any negative or harmful effects to the environment, unlike the traditional way of obtaining energy through burning processes.
Solar panels absorb the energy that is directly transmitted by the sun, so this alternative doesn’t emit harmful gases.
Another great advantage of solar panels is that you will see a reduction in your monthly electricity bill as solar energy is free.
So, how can solar panels help reduce global warming?
Solar Panels are Sustainable
Solar panels don’t contaminate the earth. Did you know that for you to have electricity fossil fuels must be burnt beforehand? Of course, this not only leads to contamination of the atmosphere but it also creates irreparable damage to the earth.
One of the great advantages of solar panels is that they are sustainable and they aim to produce electricity from clean sources. This means that they emit zero CO² as they don’t require the burning of any minerals, in fact, they generate electricity at a molecular level thus help the earth fight against global warming.
Solar Panels Produce Renewable and Clean Energy
If you start extracting the accumulated matter on Earth you get to produce energy, as it has been done for hundreds of years. However, these fossil fuels (which are a combination of decomposed plants and animal matter) will eventually disappear as they are not infinite.
In other words, if the earth happens to have no fossil fuels left then there will be no electricity left either. What you must understand is that in order to create fossil fuels the earth must go through a process where it accumulates those fossil fuels for hundreds, thousands and even millions of years.
On the other hand, solar panels are in it for the long run since solar energy is inexhaustible, this means that the sun won’t simply disappear if every single individual on earth decides to use its energy. And another great thing? Solar panels have at least a 25 years’ life span.
- Solar panels can help global warming since they don’t produce electricity from fossil fuels. What’s more, using solar energy comes with a wide range of benefits, including:
- Solar energy is free. No one is going to charge you for using the sun as your main source of energy. Some solar panels can indeed be rather expensive, but if you truly think about it, it’s an investment you will make once and then you won’t have to worry about an electricity bill each month.
- Solar energy is inexhaustible. This means the whole world can use it and it won’t disappear in a couple of years.
- Solar energy is a clean source of energy. It can be argued that a clean source of energy fits this description when no fossil fuels are being burnt, as there is no pollution either.
- Solar energy is very easy to use, in fact, the panels require minimal maintenance. There are even some tutorials found online on how to create your solar panels.
The use of solar energy is increasing throughout the world, as people are becoming aware of the damage that conventional energy does to the earth. So if you are looking at stopping global warming then do your research and see if you can install some solar panels to your home. If you have the available space and there is sunlight, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be considering having a solar panel.