Why Use Solar Energy?

There are lots of reasons why it is a good idea to use solar energy.  They fall into two broad categories: because it is good for the environment and because it is good for the individual.  Both are important, the former because this is what makes solar energy valuable, and the latter because this is what makes it viable.  It is not, of course, as productive in terms of generating electricity as fossil fuels – if it was, then it would probably be in very wide use already.  It’s greatest advantage is that it does not damage the atmosphere in any way. as regular forms of energy do, however it is also good financially for people as well, especially with the government’s feed-in tariff.

Why use solar energy? So there is less of this.

The regular way of creating energy is through burning fossil fuels.  They are very rich in energy and a lot of electricity can be created that way, however there are also harmful by-products.  There is of course the pollution, which affects the local environment.  Then there is also the carbon dioxide which is released, which contributes to global warming.  The major advantage of solar energy is that it does not create any of these problems after the solar panels have been constructed of course, which expends some energy.  After the initial energy expenditure, the use of solar energy actually starts to lessen pollution; for all the electricity created by way of solar energy, a corresponding amount does not have to be created by fossil fuels.

Therefore the use of solar energy reduces the demand for energy produced by fossil fuels, which means that less pollution is created, and less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.  Most people do care about the environment, and like to be able to help if they can, so when the question is asked, “why use solar energy?” many people would reply, “because it is good for the environment.”  This is not the only reason to do so however, another reason is for the financial benefit.

In the short term, of course, there are no financial benefits.  The cost of having solar panels installed are far more than a monthly energy bill.  Again, if this were not the case, then everybody would already have them.  So you have to either have some savings or capital, or else be able to take out a loan to have them installed in the first place.  Once you do that however, over the longer term, the solar cells will actually save you money.  In fact, with the feed-in tariff, eventually they will start making you money.  The feed-in tariff pays you for all the electricity created which is subsequently fed into the national grid, so once you have paid off the initial installation costs this will be making you a profit.

So why use solar energy?  In summary, because it is good for the environment and because it is good for you wallet… that is, in the long run, in both instances.