There are many benefits to switching from old-school fossil fuels to clean, green energy. Some are obvious, while others may be less apparent to casual observers – but no less important to our global health, prosperity, and economic security. Let’s take a closer look at how green energy can help our planet and the people who live on it.
What Is Green Energy, And How Does It Work?
If you’re still asking what green energy means, don’t worry – you’re not alone. It’s a broad term that covers power sources like solar and wind. Green energy is often called renewable energy, which hints at the critical elements of how it works. Solar panels create their power using the endlessly shining rays of the sun, while wind energy comes from the everyday breezes that blow through windy parts of the country. All have the advantage of never running out, unlike the finite amounts of oil, gas, and other fossil fuels buried beneath the earth.
The Benefits Of Green Energy
1. Reduced Emissions
The most direct and obvious effect of switching to green energy is eliminating or reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of climate change. These emissions mainly come from burning fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, but they’re also produced in large quantities from the processes needed to extract them, like drilling wells or digging mines. Green energy methods dramatically reduce both sources, as they produce next to no emissions in their operation and typically far less to initially set up. By replacing fossil fuels with clean alternatives, the world can work to slow, halt, and eventually even repair the damage done by decades of neglect.
2. Less Resource-Related Environmental Damage
To be clear, every method of energy generation has its impact on the environment, including the extensive land use of solar and the effect of wind on local wildlife. However, these renewable sources are far less environmentally damaging to set up and operate than fossil fuel generators like coal mines. Mines often devastate landscapes with contamination, deforestation, and other hazards. This ongoing damage comes on top of harm done in initially setting up fossil fuel sites, compared to green energy facilities that typically exercise more care.
3. New, High-Skilled Jobs
The world’s transition to green energy is just beginning, and the clean energy revolution needs plenty of skilled, experienced workers to help! Jobs can range from designing new generation, transmission, or storage tech to manufacturing or installing solar panels or wind turbines. These positions can help ease the switch for workers currently employed in the fossil fuel industry.
4. Improved Health
One particularly harmful downstream effect of fossil fuel emissions is worse health for everyone, particularly those who live close to major sources like power plants or highways. According to the EPA, high levels of emissions like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone can lead to a whole host of problems, from respiratory issues like asthma to heart attacks and strokes. Removing highly polluting fossil fuel plants can lead to better health outcomes, especially when clean energy picks up the slack.
5. Energy Stability
Anyone who’s driven a car in the past few years knows how unpredictable the price of fossil fuel can be. The cost varies widely by demand, production, and other factors, including coordinated efforts by organizations like OPEC to keep prices high.
So Many Diverse Benefits Of Clean, Green Energy
The damage that fossil fuels have on our environment is evident. Luckily, it’s also clear that green energy is growing fast, helping to protect the planet and reduce the impact of climate change. If you’d like to enroll in a 100% renewable electricity plan, click here today!
