Saving The Earth With Solar Energy
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by: MasonCleaves | Total views: 35 | Word Count: 620
With an issue as huge as global warming, it can feel as if we are helpless as individuals to do anything about it. However, as individuals are all there are, it is actually actions by many individuals that make big changes. By getting solar panels for your home, you'll be part of the group using solar power to fight global warming.
The Problem Of Global Warming
Work on climate change is on-going but the causes and the probable effects are already pretty well established. To take the cause, for example, that has been put down to an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.
The way it works is this. The sun shines on the Earth, but most of that energy then bounces off. If we didn't have an atmosphere then that would simply go off in to space and the planet would be uninhabitable. However, as we have green house gases which trap some of that heat, we are able to retain a lot more of it.
The problems arise when there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Then the planet is warmed up more than it should be, more than is natural, and this can have a variety of effects.
- Sea Level Rises. One of the problems that excessive warming can cause is the melting of the ice caps and the Northern and Southern extremes of the planet. This could cause the sea levels to rise, which would cause problems for coastal communities of course.
- Diminished Food Production. Climate change could also lead to our not being able to grow enough food to survive. That's because ecosystems are in a delicate balance, and if that balance is disturbed by a greater heat temperature, then we may not be able to grow the food we need to survive.
Non-Renewable Energy
The reason that we cannot simply stop using non-renewable energy though, which is what is causing the problem, is because we need it for the economy to run. If economies collapsed it would not just mean that we couldn't buy things like computers and music players, we would not be able to feed ourselves.
In a sense then it seems like we have no way out. Except there is one alternative, and that is to use renewable energy like solar energy instead. This is an entirely clean form of energy, and what's more there is no limit to how long it is going to last.
Solar Installations
It doesn't really matter what form of renewable energy we use, it could be wind, tidal, geothermal or any other kind. The reason that solar power is the most popular though is that it can be used in so many ways. It can be used in very large arrays, on vehicles, or the roofs of houses.
This means that if you have a house then you can probably get a solar installation and be involved with fighting global warming. If enough people and businesses do this then eventually we will be able to make the switch to renewable energy and leave fossil fuels behind.
Financial Incentives
While there is a potential solution to the problem, however, we cannot afford to focus entirely on the future, present conditions also have to be taken in to account. In other words, people can't get solar panels if they can't afford them. The government is therefore trying to make them a better investment.
In terms of solar energy, uk production, it has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of the feed in tariff. This is a scheme which pays you for every kilowatt hour of electricity produced through renewable means, and often amounts to somewhere in the region of 1,000. You have to use MCS accredited installers to be eligible though.
About the Author
You can get a free quote regarding the solar panel installation company from the site Logan Raikes also writes at, Solar Energy UK Renewables.
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