Why Solar

Humanity is grasping for solutions to the causes and consequences of climate change.  And yet a solution is visible to us all the time, every day. You see it every time you look out of your window in the morning, when you go to the beach, or take a walk.

For the one in ten people who live beyond the reach of the electricity grid, solar energy offers the promise of a better life, now. For those of us who participate in the fossil fuel economy, solar energy offers a way to create a balanced and healthy world for everyone today and for future generations. Here’s why solar is critical to our future:

Solar is abundant.

Daylight is available almost everywhere in the planet, every day. It is always there, always available, always accessible.

Solar is fair. 

When solar panels are on your home or in your community, energy is owned locally. Wealth isn’t concentrated in the hands of big companies. Individuals and communities can save money on energy bills and earn income by selling their excess power.

Solar is clean. 

Solar energy does not pollute the air, creates no CO2 emissions, requires no drilling and does not produce spills.

Solar grows economies. 

With accessible, low-cost sources of reliable energy, entrepreneurs in developing countries can start and grow businesses without depleting the earth’s natural resources. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on energy access, up to $1.70 is generated in employment and improved productivity.

Solar is versatile.  

Solar energy can be as small as one tiny light enabling a child to study at night or as large as a solar farm powering a town. It can be produced in homes and communities, at businesses and schools, at hospitals and parks, wherever it is needed.

Solar is conscious.   

Would you rather get your energy from burning oil that comes from a hole in the ground or from the source that illuminates your day, warms your body and brings light into your life?

Solar is inexpensive. 

The price of solar panels has dropped dramatically in the past decade to a point where solar energy costs the same, or less than, energy produced by fossil fuels. Once installed there are minimal operating costs for solar systems.

Despite these benefits, solar provides just 3% of our power. It is projected that solar can meet 70% of the world’s energy needs by 2040. Getting there will require political will, behavior change, a collective effort… and you.