Unless you’ve been under a rock the last decade, there’s no question you’ve heard of Climate Change (sometimes referred to as Global Warming). With so many different opinions flying around it can all be hard to follow. What these terms usually refer to is the changing of the earth’s climate that is being influenced by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
The science is undeniable at this point that human activity has an impact on the environment around us, whether its burning fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, or by destroying forests and vegetation that help recapture carbon emissions.
The greenhouse effect traps some of the Sun’s energy in the form of heat once it passes through the atmosphere. This is what allows the earth to stay warm enough to support all of the life on it. The problem is, if there is an increase in greenhouse gasses, then the earth traps too much heat and the global temperatures rise. That’s what is currently occurring, and if we can reduce the production of greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and methane, we can reduce this global temperature rise.
Electrical services and electrical contractors have become an important part of life, as electricity is needed more and more for our modern lives. From lights to movies theatres to smart phones, we wouldn’t be able to get by without it. This is currently a problem because one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is the production of electricity. In fact it’s the biggest source of CO2 in the United States. If you talk to any electrician they’ll tell you how many electrical services are needed to keep our modern world turned on. However, you don’t need to be an electrical contractor to know which power sources for electrical services are better or worse for the climate.
Electricity production by burning fossil fuels will release more greenhouse gasses in the air then ones that don’t rely them. Production methods with little to no CO2 emissions include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and nuclear power. Electrical contractors and electricians are now looking for more ways to use these forms of energy in industrial, commercial and residential environments. For example adding solar panels to your house. We rely on the electrical grid to power our cities and industries and electrical services are going to play a growing role in the fight against climate change.
As a consumer, its important to know what energy source your electricity is coming from. Now more than ever, consumers have some choice in the different retail markets on the electrical products they choose.