Environmentally Speaking, You Can’t Go Wrong.

Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, have very little impact on the environment, making them one of the cleanest power-generating technologies available. While they’re operating, PV systems produce no air pollution, hazardous waste, or noise, and they require no transportable fuels. Because of these benefits, PV can play an important role in mitigating environmental problems like…

Ground-level air pollution has severe health and environmental effects and contributes to visibility problems in scenic areas. Traditional power sources are the largest contributor to this pollution; in contrast, solar power produces no air pollution. Commercial building energy use accounts for roughly 25-30 percent of the country’s energy related carbon emmissions and growing 2% per year.

Global warming is causing a rise in sea levels, and this leads to a loss of coastal wetlands, erosion of shorelines, and increased flooding in coastal areas. Local and regional climate shifts can also have severe impacts on ecosystems and agriculture. Solar power produces no greenhouse gases, so it does not contribute to global warming.

Energy Payback Time (EPT)

Finally, solar power systems have a very low EPT or Energy Payback Time of approximately 1.5 years. The EPT is the time it takes a PV system to generate enough zero-emissions energy to equal the energy used to produce it.