Renewable energy use is on the rise around the world. It has many benefits to the planet as a whole. Climate change can be combated with the use of renewable energy sources. This type of energy is generated from sources that naturally replenish themselves and never run out. It produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. The only emissions that they produce come from indirect sources, such as manufacturing parts, installation, and maintenance. Over 80% of total energy consumed by humans comes from fossil fuels in one fashion or another. Once built, renewable energy sources cost less to run and operate. Plus, the "fuel" being used is often free from nature! Due to the operation and fuel costs, the cost of the energy itself is often stable without some of the fluctuations the energy market deals with now. Studies show that the switch to renewable energy should have positive health benefits as well. Currently the most common renewable energy sources include wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal.
Renewable Energy Facts
There are many facts that pertain to renewable energy that many people may not realize. It’s not just a way to power a variety of different devices around the house. Some of the most interesting facts include:
- China Invests More Money into Renewable Energy Than Any Other Country - As of 2019, China has invested more than $83 billion into clean energy. China also has over 300 million jobs in renewable energy.
- Renewable Energy Can Cut Down On Heat Waves, Saving Lives - Surprisingly, heat waves take more lives each year than any other type of weather-related incident occurring in the U.S. Also, there is a startling amount of evidence showing that heat waves have become more common as a result of climate change.
- You Can Rent Your Roof and Have Solar Panels Installed For Free - The biggest problem with renewable energy is that it is quite costly. A solar panel system is quite an investment and can cost up to $7,000. If you can't afford them, you can always rent your rooftop. You split the energy produced by your panels; this could save you a few hundred dollars on your bills.
- Renewable Energy Can Save American Lives - The transition to renewable energy would ultimately save many lives. When air quality is poor due to harmful emissions, humans are quite susceptible to inhaling these dangerous toxins. This can lead to dangerous and deadly respiratory conditions.
- The Solar Energy Industry Can Offer Comparable Employment - Currently the United States features over 250,000 jobs thanks to solar energy. This number continues to increase rapidly as more people are using solar energy as their main or complementary source of income.
- Planet Earth Could Be 100% Reliant On Renewable Energy for Power By 2050 - Our dependence on fossil fuels can come to an end. Key decision-makers in political and financial sectors will need to work collaboratively to reach this goal.
How Renewable Energy May Improve Health
Moving away from fossil fuels should have positive advantages for lives on the planet. While it is widely known that renewable energy decreases environmental pollution, there are additional health benefits. Extreme temperatures also affect our food supply, which impacts humans and animals. Bad growing conditions can force growers to use a severe amount of pesticides and chemicals to try to maintain their crops. Higher temperatures tend to reduce crop production. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that heat waves have become more frequent. Heat waves spike carbon emissions from increased air conditioning use during periods of hotter weather. as Researchers contend that severe temperature spikes throughout the US are likely a result of climate change and will continue to occur more frequently if patterns do not change.
Another health issue exasperated by fossil fuels is pneumonia. As we know, fossil fuel use is linked to air pollution. Increased emissions in the air does lead to more cases of pneumonia and more hospitalizations. A study research conducted by Canada's McMaster University showed that exposure to nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and traffic pollution are all linked to increased risk of pneumonia. These are byproducts of fossil fuel burning. Pneumonia is especially risky for the elderly and young children. A reduction in use of fossil fuels could reduce cases of pneumonia and other respiratory issues.
Similar to pneumonia, bronchitis (both chronic and acute) can be triggered by exposure to fossil fuel emissions. Nitrogen oxides in particular cause airway inflammation in young children. This inflammation leads to coughing, fever, and fatigue. Renewable energy will prevent many of these health issues brought on by exposure to harmful fossil fuel emissions floating throughout the air.