Harnessing the power of wind, sun, water, and other natural resources for heating, transportation, lighting, and more has been part of human culture for thousands of years. But over the past 500 years or so, we’ve increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier energy sources, like coal and fracked gas.
Switching to renewable energy has many benefits for your home and the planet. It can save you money and help protect you from the effects of fossil fuel prices spikes.
1. Environmentally Friendly
Switching to renewable energy is one of the most environmentally friendly ways you can save your home and the planet. This is because renewables are derived from natural resources that won’t run out – like wind and sun.
Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity releases large volumes of greenhouse gases into the air – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other pollutants – that contribute to global warming.
Using non-combustion renewable energy sources, such as solar power and wind turbines, also limits air pollution that can cause harmful health effects – such as asthma attacks, heart disease, strokes, respiratory illness and more. This makes them especially important for people at risk of these problems – such as older adults, children, communities of color and people with existing health issues.
2. Saves Money
If you want to save money on your home’s energy bills, it is a good idea to look into switching to renewable energy. Depending on how much electricity you use and how many solar panels or wind turbines you install, you could end up saving a lot of money over time.
Besides being cheaper than fossil fuels, solar and wind power are also cleaner. They do not contribute to climate change and produce no greenhouse gases.
A recent report shows that households could save as much as $321bn in energy costs by a complete switch to clean energy. Those savings would be largely derived from reducing the need to dig up and deliver fossil fuel-based power.
3. Increases Property Value
There are many benefits of switching to renewable energy for your home and the planet. Aside from saving money and increasing your property value, solar energy can also help you meet your carbon reduction goals.
The key is to choose a renewable energy source that meets your needs and budget. This could include using solar power to reduce your energy costs or a wind turbine to generate electricity for your home.
Solar and wind power are renewable resources that don’t run out. However, they can be affected by a number of factors including unpredictable weather and droughts.
4. Increases Home Value
Choosing to use renewable energy reduces your home’s impact on the planet and helps you save money in the long run. In addition, switching to renewable energy can increase your home’s value by providing an attractive selling point for potential buyers.
According to a recent study by Zillow, homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more on average than non-solar properties. This translates to around $9,274 in increased resale value for the median-valued US home.
As homeowners are becoming more aware of the environmental benefits and savings that come with switching to renewable energy, they are willing to pay a premium for solar-ready homes. In some markets, solar-equipped homes have sold for $15,000+ more than comparable homes without the systems.
5. Increases Health
The benefits of switching to renewable energy for your home and the planet are numerous. They include improved air quality and reduced pollution from burning fossil fuels.
Solar energy is a great example of this. It’s a renewable resource that can be harnessed and used to power your entire life.
It’s also more sustainable than traditional sources of electricity, as it doesn’t require the extraction of fossil fuels.
Wind and solar technologies don’t produce air pollutants, reducing the risk of asthma attacks, heart disease and cancer. This is especially important because non-renewable energy sources like oil, coal and municipal solid waste create air pollution that can exacerbate respiratory illnesses.