| Global sustainability has become an imperative |
Increasingly, companies around the world are adopting sustainability initiatives and utilities are adding renewable energy quotas to their sourcing strategies. In many instances photovoltaic solar electric systems play a lead role in helping companies and utilities achieve measurable objectives. More importantly, a thoughtfully designed system often serves as a working symbol of the company’s commitment to the communities they serve and the environment we all share, while utility-scale systems offset the use of carbon-based fuels in energy generation directly benefiting the environment on a large scale.
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| The Conservation of Fossil Fuels |
The conservation of fossil fuels is a simple but very important benefit that results from the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar power. As more and more businesses, homeowners and governments move to renewable energies such as solar, we conserve fossil fuels and other natural resources that are diminishing. With the expansion of our global economy and rapid growth in highly populated countries, the demand for energy is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Conserving natural resources has never been more important.
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| Reduction of Air Pollution |
The use of PV solar systems decreases the amount of local air pollution. Around the world, a decrease in the amount of kerosene used for lighting results in a corresponding reduction in the amount of local pollution produced. Globally, rural electrification using PV solar also decreases the amount of electricity needed from small diesel generators.
There are major environmental impacts attributed to electricity generation from non-renewable fuels. Emissions of atmospheric pollutants (particulates, Sulfur Dioxide (SOx), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and others) have a serious impact on public health, our water and crops. Additionally, these pollutants negatively impact many delicate ecosystems including forests, fisheries and wetlands.
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| Offsetting Greenhouse Gases |
Photovoltaic systems produce electric power with no CO2 emissions. Carbon emission offset is calculated at approximately 6 tons of CO2 over twenty years of use for one PV system.
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| Conserving Energy |
Solar electricity for the Third World is an effective energy conservation program because it conserves costly conventional power for urban areas, town market centers, and industrial and commercial uses, leaving decentralized PV-generated power to provide the lighting and basic electrical needs of the majority of the developing world's rural populations.
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