It's currently 20%, the good news is that you can do something about this, starting with your home. When you install solar panels and utilise renewable energy, this switch reduces grid demand on the local centralised power station. As a result, the power station uses less coal or gas-obtained electricity.
The Australian government is keen to get the message out there; not only is solar good for your wallet, but it keeps our planet fit and healthy too.
Here are three ways your solar panels help our planet.
- Reduced emissions: Solar energy does not produce any air or water pollution, and it does not generate greenhouse gas emissions. Solar reduces household emissions by ensuring the electricity you use is sourced from clean energy - the sun!
- Reduction in water and air pollution: Solar energy does not pollute water resources, or create air pollution. Unlike conventional power plants, solar power does not use large amounts of water for cooling, which can strain water resources and ecosystems.
- A renewable source: With the development of solar panels and batteries, a household can rely on the energy generated by the sun to run their household, essentially going off-grid. Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and will eventually run out, solar energy is a renewable resource that will never be depleted. As long as the sun continues to shine, we will have access to solar energy.
- It can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels: Solar energy can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This can help reduce our exposure to price volatility and supply disruptions, and it can also reduce our contribution to climate change.
What about the manufacturing of solar panels?
It’s true that manufacturing solar system components, such as solar panels, requires some energy. However, just one year of a typical solar system’s renewable power generation completely offsets the energy used to produce it.
Source: ‘Australian households are directly responsible for about 20% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. The average household’s energy use generates over 7 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from its premises each year.