As climate change continues to wreak havoc on our temperatures and sunlight, more and more people and businesses are becoming aware that solar energy is a great way to be environmentally friendly. From small families to big corporations, the benefits of solar energy are endless and provide an easy and affordable way to help sustain the environment we live in and depend on. Not only is this renewable energy great for the environment but the financial benefits are abundant. There are so many great things happening in the solar industry.
Farming
With the decline in farming due to cost, a dairy farm in California, Lima Ranch Dairy, is combatting this problem by using solar energy. By reducing their operating costs, they can ensure that they can continue to deliver quality products to their customers while earning a profit. While you may not immediately think that farming would be an industry that could use solar panels, keep in mind that anything that uses electricity can be powered by the sun.
Travel
Even airports are seeing and understanding the need for renewable energy. John F. Kennedy International Airport was just awarded the contract to begin New York City’s biggest solar project by having rooftop solar panels on a building and parking lot. With the goal of reducing emissions by 80% no later than 2050, this is a great step in the right direction for JFK International Airport.
Manufacturing
A company called Heliogen uses mirrors to produce some major heat, up to 1,100 degrees which have the potential to replace fossil fuels. Cement factories, as well as steel or petrochemicals, need 1,100 degrees in order to produce their materials so regular solar panels would not have been an option for them. This is a revolutionary discovery by Heliogen and the project is now backed by Bill Gates. Because using these solar mirrors uses sunlight, it could save the manufacturers a lot of money compared to other energy sources.