Environment
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More people are changing to renewable energy alternatives because of the financial benefits and the positive impact on the environment
| By Bryn Huntpalmer |
Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power have become all the rage over the past few years, in large part because of the undeniable financial benefits from decreased annual energy costs. But another important benefit is brand image—because when you reduce your carbon footprint in such a forward-thinking way, you’re setting an environmentally friendly example for your community that others will follow. Thus your brand becomes known as a leader in sustainability and also increases customer loyalty and increased profitability.
Whether you currently make use of renewable energy or you’re just starting to consider the prospect, it’s important to understand the cost benefits of such energy sources and how they impact the environment both within your immediate area and throughout the world.
The Financials
An important beneficial aspect of renewable energy revolves around financials in a variety of ways—not only do you save money on energy costs each time you put renewable energy to use, but you are acting as a role model for the community so they’re more likely to save money, too. As a whole, your community can save money on energy costs and taxes that are accumulated due to clean air bills and other legislation attached to traditional energy production and consumption that may be on the books.
In terms of your personal finances, even if you use alternative energy to power your lights at night or to charge your computer in your home office during the day, you should see a noticeable decrease in your monthly power bills. Many energy companies will allow you to tie your alternative energy sources into their network so you can sell your unused clean energy to the company for credits that can be used towards the energy they provide you.
The Carbon Footprint
One of the most pressing issues on many minds today is global warming, and traditional energy production accounts for about a third of all emissions released into the planet’s atmosphere. So naturally, the less you have to rely on energy through the power grid, the less you are contributing to the release of mass emissions. Gathering resources that are used for traditional energy production take a toll on the planet as well, which is something you never have to worry about when it comes to solar and wind power sources.
In addition, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power don’t require the use of water or other natural resources to maintain their function, which means that they do not have to compete with agricultural practices and they won’t deplete valuable drinking sources. Possibly one of the coolest things about using renewable energy sources is the fact that it offers a virtually unlimited supply of free, clean, and safe power for multiple decades without the need for intense maintenance or ongoing replacements of parts and accessories.
Bryn Huntpaler lives in Austin, Texas, where she currently works as an Editor for Modernize.
– Jan. 11, 2016 @ 10:30 GMT |
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