Summertime is almost here. The glories of longer, sunnier days! But also, the time of soaring electricity bills, thanks to that AC running all day long. And while the bill might be an inconvenience, it’s nothing compared to the long-term consequences of all that energy used.
Electricity represents a fair chunk of our overall carbon footprint as a nation. It’s 33% of our total emissions, even higher than the whole transport sector that emits approximately 28%.
Our annual household carbon footprint is, on average, 19 tons of greenhouse gas emissions; but this means we’re adding up and dividing the share between houses in the suburbs, lofts in heavily populated areas and far away farms in the middle of fields.
When it comes to carbon emissions, don’t blame big cities – blame the suburbs. You may be surprised to know that suburbia is contributing 50% of all household emissions in the nation, more than the high-end city apartment, because urbanization cuts down some emissions by having efficient public transportation, and less per capita impacts in housing and construction.
While the average of 19 tons might not seem alarming, there are some areas like Glencoe, Illinois where the average annual emissions per household are 93.2 metric tons of CO2. Though this number is frightening to most green enthusiast, Illinois is advancing its clean technologies. The good news is that over 4.6 metric tons of CO2 have been reduced through wind generation since 2012.
Fortunately, houses in the suburbs AND in the city have the advantage of being able to make amends for all those extra emissions by going solar. Nowadays, it’s easy to have solar panels installed in your home, to create your own mini power station. Remember those blackouts during the heat waves? That won’t happen to you anymore. And the best part is you can negotiate energy with your utility company; because any extra solar energy you’re generating and are not using can be claimed as credits to your account. Talk about an investment that keeps on giving!
If you’re thinking about taking on cleaner energy with a touch of class, you should check out SolarCity. Their sleek equipment is discreet, yet attractive. They’re as non-invasive as the electricity bills they guarantee you’ll be getting for the following 20 years: save approximately $60 – $200 per month on electricity, free installation and flexible payment options with as little as $0 down.
If you’re concerned about the initial investment of having photovoltaic equipment or think your house may not get enough sun throughout the year to make it worth it, don’t worry. You can install leased equipment and only pay per month or kWh. After five years of leasing, you are able to purchase the equipment outright.
Not sure if you want to have photovoltaic panels on your roof? SolarWorld has the option for a ground-mount solar system. If you have space in the garden and want to add a high quality, modern, eco-friendly look to your architecture, then throw away those garden gnomes and make space for photovoltaic panels. They’re weather resistant and include ongoing maintenance checks by specialized engineers; all part of the high class service that SolarWorld provides.
By implementing solar technology, over the next 20 years you will save 166 tons of CO2, the equivalent of driving 358,946 miles in a conventional non-hybrid or non-electric car. These 166 tons you won’t emit, will give a helping hand to the 7,732 trees that it would take to absorb them. A forest somewhere is thanking you right now.
Love bonuses? As an extra, a house with a photovoltaic system installed can be resold for a higher price than a house of similar size in the same area. Not that you’ll want to sell your home now that’s it’s so cool, but at least you know the return on investment. Before you take the plunge, be sure to check out your options with high-quality companies such as SolarCity and SolarWorld.