Debunking Common Myths About Solar Panels
As solar energy has become more accessible to the public, many myths have been propagated about the effectiveness of solar panels. Whether it’s from the mouth of a friend or family member, or you read it from an article, there is a plethora of misinformation spreading through the internet about solar panels. In this blog, I will attempt to dispel five myths that may be lingering in the mind of a person interested in buying a solar panel for their home. Solar Panels do not work in cloudy conditions. While it might make sense that solar panels cannot work in cloudy conditions due to obstructed view from the sun, solar panels can actually perform almost as well in cloudy conditions compared to clear conditions. Even though direct sunlight results in the best use case, they can still use indirect sunlight to generate a sufficient amount of energy (Durrani).
Solar Panels are inefficient Solar panels are actually quite efficient. According to the Department of Energy, one and a half hours of sunlight can actually provide more energy than the planet uses in a year (Durrani). Imagine how much energy a solar panel can generate per day!
Solar Panels have a short life span Solar panels can actually be good for about 25 - 30 years (Durrani). For reference, an electric generator today would only last you 15 - 20 years (C7DTeam). Furthermore, Solar Panels are easily manageable and waterproof; they also come with warranty in case something out of your control happens to your Solar Panel.
Solar energy is too expensive Within the last decade, the prices of solar panels have dropped by 80%. Today, solar panels on average cost around $16,000 and range from $4,500 to $36,000 (Durrani). While the price is expensive on paper, once you realize that you are making an investment of free renewable energy, the price will even out.
Used solar panels will eventually fill landfills When a solar panel reaches the end of its lifecycle, there are government programs that help recycle the old, dead solar panel. For example, the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency has programs that recycle the materials of old panels into brand new panels (Durrani).
C7DTeam. “The Average Lifespan of a Generator.” Duthie Power Services, 4 Dec. 2017, duthiepower.com/the-general-life-span-of-a-generator/. Durrani, Ana. “20 Common Solar Myths Debunked.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023, www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/solar-myths/. .
How to Save Money on Your next Electricity Bill
It's the end of the month, and you get that dreaded mail again. You open it, knowing that it's that time of the month. And when you do, you see that horrible number you’ve been avoiding. The dreadful electricity bill. “What was it this time?” you wonder, “Why is it so expensive again?” If you’ve ever had to go through this experience, you may wonder what you can do to reduce your bill as much as possible. After all, no one wants to be evicted from their home because of a bill they can’t pay. In this blog, we will discuss five easy things you can do to reduce your electricity bill. Open the Curtains During the day, when the sun is nice and bright outside, you may want to consider letting some sunlight through the windows. This way, you don’t have to turn on any lights during the day.
Open the Windows During hot days, instead of switching on the air conditioner for cool air, you may want to open some windows to allow some cool air to naturally flow through your home. However, you better hope that nothing else comes into your home while your windows are open.
Use your Ceiling Fan While using a ceiling fan does indeed require electricity, it uses significantly less energy than an air conditioner, and can properly cool your home or room without needing you to open your windows.
Use One Electronic Device at a Time Sometimes, it’s nice to have the television running in the background, while you’re doing a chore, like cooking or cleaning. However, you may want to limit the amount of devices that run in your home simultaneously. For example, you have multiple rooms with a tv, you may want to turn off the tv in those rooms if they’re not in use.
Setting up a Thermostat According to the Department of Energy, setting up a thermostat that can autonomously set the temperature at your home, while you’re away may help reduce your electricity bill by 10%.
Minos, Scott. “10 Energy Saving Tips for Spring.” Energy.Gov, www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/10-energy-saving-tips-spring. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. .
Three Ways to Promote Recycling to Your Community
Recycling the practice of reducing waste put into the environment through the reusing of trash to create new products. While recycling is an important part in reducing the risk of climate change, many people are unaware of the practice of recycling and those who do know about it seldom practice it. This raises an important question: How do we promote recycling within our community?
Placing Recycle Bins in Public Areas By adding recycling bins by trash cans in public areas, it’ll provide greater convenience for passersby who have no wear to throw their plastic waste away. Oftentimes without a recycling bin or even a trash can nearby, people who can’t be bothered end up littering their trash. By adding more trash cans to public areas, like parks for example, you can incentivise these people to throw their recyclable waste into recycle bins.
Educate Your Community By putting down your foot, and deciding to speak to your community yourself, you may find out that a lot of people in your community do not have a clue on what recycling is. It will then be your duty to educate them about recycling and its importance. In doing so, you promote the importance of recycling and hopefully create more recyclers in the future.
Set Recycling Goals By setting realistics recycling goals, you and your community have a destination to strive for. In doing so, you motivate your community and reward your community for every small milestone.
Gosnell, Justin. “What Can You Do to Help Recycling Efforts in the Community?” CleanRiver, cleanriver.com/resource/blog-what-can-i-do-to-help-recycling/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. .
