Isaksen Solar Discusses the Environmental Impact of Solar Panels

With all of the possibilities, it can be overwhelming to know where to start in your journey to a greener lifestyle. With that in mind we turned to our friends at Isaksen Solar to break down what exactly Earth Day is, why is it important and some ways you can make a change this year:

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day was created to help combat the negative effects on the environment from the mass production of inefficient automobiles without assessing the implications of the air pollution they created. Originally, Earth Day inspired over 20 million Americans, 10% of the population at the time, to protest against the negative effects on human health and the steady deterioration of the environment at that time. This nationwide participation led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Over the years, Earth Day continued to be monumental by being the day some of the most important environmental laws were passed like The Clean Air Act and The Clean Water Act.

Today, Earth Day continues to be observed as a day of action, awareness, and education, and to encourage volunteering for global, local, and national environmental issues. However, we think Earth Day should not just be something we do just one day but should jumpstart practices we carry with us every day. In 2022, the journey towards a greener more sustainable planet presses on with even more urgency as the effects of climate change become more and more apparent.

What Climate Issues Does The Earth Currently Face?

While awareness of the climate crisis has grown, there still is a lot to be desired regarding actions in addressing the problems. As a country, carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions have increased over the past few decades. In the Northeast of the United States specifically, we can expect to see more heatwaves, heavy downpours, poorer air quality, more extreme storms, and rising sea levels that will compromise our infrastructure, agriculture, sea life, and ecosystems.

At Isaksen Solar, our mission has directly aligned us with the climate change problem in the US. The electric power sector is single-handedly responsible for 28% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. By providing homeowners with a simple option to go solar, we are looking to increase the Southcoast and Rhode Island’s use of renewable energy by providing clean, emissions-free electricity. The positive environmental impact of solar energy is and will continue to be crucial to nationwide efforts to reach our climate goals. When looking at 2020 data, the electric power sector has decreased its emissions by 10%, a large portion of that being attributed to the shift from carbon-intensive fossil fuels to renewable resources like solar.

What Should I Do On Earth Day?

There are countless ways to jump in and participate in Earth Day and after. Here are a few below with links to resources:

Learn how to more effectively recycle
Start Composting
Take part in a local Earth Day Event
Take A Bike Leave A Bike – Westport
Earth Day Cleanup – New Bedford
Support local businesses and products
Choose not to eat meat for the day
Walk or bike instead of using your car

However when looking for Earth Day activities we have our Isaksen Solar approved activity to consider:

Isaksen Solar Approved Earth Day Activity:

Get A Free Solar Quote For Your Home

For most homeowners, keeping up with green practices, while important, can take time to research, learn and apply. We believe that all green practices are important to helping our environment, however switching to solar may be the least disruptive lifestyle choice while making the largest impact and substantially reducing your carbon footprint every day.

While solar panels can be energy-intensive to make, they can produce that amount of energy used in manufacturing within 1 to 4 years of use. Over a 30-year lifetime that is 26 to 29 years of positive impact on the environment. This is a significantly lower carbon footprint than coal or gas when considering emissions during manufacturing, construction and fuel supply. Once solar panels are installed they are cutting down on the demand for coal and gas which constantly emit harmful gasses into the atmosphere as they produce energy, further contributing to climate change while also using large resources of water. However, once a home is powered with solar this cycle is stopped as coal and gas are replaced with the sun’s ray and the positive environmental impact of solar panels accumulates with little to no continued effort from the homeowner.

This impact has about the same effect on the environment as planting one tree for every 100 kwh of energy your home produces. For the average homeowner, this is about six trees planted a month and 72 over the course of a year. If you are looking for a sustainable way to go green and make a difference every day, solar might just be your answer!

If you are curious if solar is a good fit for your home give Isaksen Solar a call at 508-567-0647 or get started on your free quote!

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