4 Benefits of Solar Panel Energy

The sun provides enough energy in one hour to meet a year’s worth of global energy needs. It is a powerful energy source, one which researchers and experts are trying to get a good grasp on. There is still more to be done to harness the power of the sun, but for those that have been able to use solar power, they enjoy several benefits of this renewable energy source.

A Renewable Energy Source

The best thing about solar energy (usually in the form of solar panels) is that it is a renewable energy source. Places all over the world can tap into the power of the sun, and it is available without fear of running out. As long as the world has the sun, there will be solar energy. As scientists estimate, the sun will be around for another five billion years.

A Reduced Utility

Solar panels will be able to reduce your electric bill since you will use harness the sun’s energy to reduce your dependency on fossil fuel sources of electricity. Your heating and cooling bill could be drastically reduced, but there is a possibility that you will be able to get some money back on your solar panel investment. Any extra energy that you send back to the grid (your panels generate more energy than you use) could result in a credit on your account or a surplus payment.

Diverse Applications

You will be able to use solar energy for many different applications. Solar energy can be used to generate heat or electricity, and the ability to access the sun anywhere in the world makes it easier to use the power for a number of different projects. You can use solar energy to pump water into remote areas or you can have the energy integrated into various construction materials (like transparent solar energy windows). Solar panels are made from cycled materials, with silicon wafer polishing priming the parts for durability in each use.

Low Maintenance Costs

In addition to saving money on your electricity, you will also save money on maintenance needs. Your basic task will be to keep the panels clean, and this only needs to be done a few times a year. There are specialized cleaning companies that can do this for you. Your panels may also come with a 20-25 year warranty, though there is no wear and tear of moving parts.

There is a significant up-front cost for the installation of solar panels, but the end result should be cost-saving and eco-friendly.

Getting Green At Work: Five Ways To Make Your Office More Eco Friendly

Almost everyone is doing what they can to be more eco-friendly in this day and age. If you aren’t making some attempt to save the planet, chances are your employees won’t be happy with you. If you’d like to prioritise making your office more eco friendly in manageable ways, here are a few tips.

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Use Less Paper

First and foremost, it’s time to start using less paper. If you’re in the habit of printing everything out, that habit needs to stop: if you want to be able to take your documents around easily, why not use a tablet instead? You can easily use tools to highlight and make notes on e-documents as well as physical ones.

One pro of using less paper is that storage will become much easier in the office. An inbox overflowing with paper will be a thing of the past, and you won’t need to worry about marking out space in your office for filing cabinets, as everything will be stored on the cloud instead. It’s more convenient and better for Mother Earth.

Make Sure You Recycle

Recycling in the office is vitally important, from putting out different bins in the kitchen to electronic recycling when your electronic products end up breaking and no longer being usable. Make sure that the kitchen bins are clearly labelled so that people don’t throw their trash in the wrong place. You should also make sure that there’s a paper recycle bin in the office—no matter how eco friendly you try to be, it’s almost impossible to be entirely paperless.

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Hand Out Eco Friendly Swag

When it comes to handing out swag, most companies tend to go for items like mouse mats—but who really uses mouse mats now, anyway? If you’re handing out branded merchandise to your employees, make sure that you’re focusing on items that are eco friendly. You can get pens and pencils made from recycled cups—and you could hand out reusable mugs that can be used at coffee shops and metal and glass reusable water bottles as well. 

Use Less Energy

Using less energy is an easy way to be more eco friendly. This might be using more natural light instead of having overhead lamps blaring down on your employees all day—and it might also mean using energy efficient bulbs instead of the older ones, which blow out more quickly and use up more energy anyway. Open windows instead of using air conditioning, and make sure that all leaks and drips are fixed so you don’t waste water.

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Organise A Car Pool

If your employees all tend to come to work separately in their own cars, why not organise car pools in different areas so they can cut down on gas usage and come to work together? You could also set up a bike hire program so that people can cycle to work, along with season pass loans so that they can use public transport more cheaply. These will all cut down on gas emissions from cars.

Being eco friendly at work doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult—these tips should make sure your office is a happier and greener place.

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