Health Benefits Of Solar Energy: Breathe Cleaner Air
During the industrial era, fossil fuels powered machinery that improved our lives. However, the demand for fossil fuels is now decreasing. Solar energy, one of the most advantageous sustainable energy sources available, can provide a significant portion of the energy needed to run our modern world. Let’s explore some of the incredible health benefits solar energy offers.
Cleaner Air to Breathe
Air pollution was responsible for more than one-ninth of global deaths in 2012. Solar power and other clean energy sources can be the solution to this air pollution crisis, which claims thousands of lives every year. In fact, a recent study revealed that the increasing popularity of wind and solar power has saved approximately 1,000 American lives over the past decade by reducing air pollution.
Breathing poor-quality air poses various health risks, including allergies, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, anxiety, headaches, heart attacks, arrhythmia, and even cancer. Compared to traditional fossil fuels, the solar industry emits significantly fewer harmful gases. By embracing solar energy in more homes and businesses, we can prevent many of these severe health issues.
Solar Energy Improves Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health
One of the most significant health benefits of solar energy is its minimal emissions. According to NREL’s analysis, widespread adoption of solar energy would drastically reduce harmful emissions like sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter, all of which are known to cause serious health problems. Solar power leads to fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular and respiratory issues, and fewer workdays lost due to health concerns.
The advantages of solar energy are clear. By saving on your electric bills and reducing your carbon footprint, you can improve the health not only of yourself but also of those around you. Get solar quotes today and discover how much you can save. For example, in the U.S., adding 100 GW of solar energy to households could potentially prevent 437 deaths, 717 heart attacks, and 300 respiratory diseases annually.
Combatting the Summer Heat with Solar Energy
As mentioned earlier, solar panels can help cool cities during scorching summer heatwaves. This effect is particularly significant in large cities located far from the ocean, as they tend to become extremely hot without the cooling ocean breeze. Solar panels not only provide renewable energy for air conditioning but also help prevent a rising number of premature deaths caused by extreme heat.
Solar Energy Promotes Gender Equality in Healthcare
In many households, women and children are responsible for housework, including cooking and cleaning. Unfortunately, this means they spend a significant amount of time indoors near sources of polluting energy. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to diseases caused by exposure to poor indoor air quality.
Indoor air pollution is a leading cause of heart attacks, lung cancer, and heart disease among off-grid women and children. Access to clean and reliable energy has a profound impact on their health, especially in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring public health and well-being for all by 2030. By eliminating indoor air pollution through solar energy, we can not only improve health but also promote gender equality, reduce CO2 emissions, and provide a reliable and affordable source of clean power.
Living in a Cleaner Environment with Solar Energy
Our reliance on fossil fuels has led to pollution that affects every aspect of our lives. Acid drainage, oil spills from mining sites, polluted water from power plants, deforestation, and mass deaths of aquatic organisms are just a few examples that make headlines regularly. Moreover, plastic, a toxic byproduct of fossil fuels, is gradually becoming a threat to the global food chain and water supply.
The Bottom Line
The health problems caused by fossil fuel pollution worldwide are difficult to quantify, but they far surpass other significant risk factors like malnutrition. By replacing fossil fuels with solar energy, we can enhance the safety of the environment in which we live, eat, and raise our children. While criticism of the solar industry’s cleanliness arises from time to time, the impact of solar energy on our health is significantly lower compared to any known fossil fuel. The health benefits of solar energy are undeniable, making it an essential choice for a sustainable and healthier future.
