Environmental Benefits
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Each year over 400 trainloads of coal are burned to provide electricity for the Tucson area – 10,000 pounds per car, 100 cars per train. While coal has been a relatively cheap consistent form of energy for decades, the negative impacts of burning coal are numerous. In the Southwest, in particular, the burning of coal to support our energy needs pollutes our air, contributes to global warming, and uses precious groundwater supply (for producing steam to spin the turbines). Burning coal also depletes and pollutes the water table on Hopi lands, jeopardizing the livelihood of those who live there. |
Each installed kW of solar generates about 135 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity per month, also:
• preventing about 135 lbs. of coal from being mined and burned,
• saving over 70 gallons of water from being used,
• preventing about 270 lbs. of CO2 emissions, combating global warming,
• reducing sulfur and nitrogen emissions, contributors to smog and acid rain.
A 3 kW PV system offers the following benefits:
| Energy created |
400 kWh |
4,800 kWh |
| Coal not burned |
400 lbs. |
4,800 lbs. |
| Water saved |
160 gal. |
1,920 gal. |
| Carbon dioxide avoided |
600 lbs. |
7,200 lbs. |
A 30 kW PV system offers the following benefits:
| Energy created |
4,000 kWh |
48,000 kWh |
| Coal not burned |
4,000 lbs. |
48,000 lbs. |
| Water saved |
1,600 gal. |
19,200 gal. |
| Carbon dioxide avoided |
6,000 lbs. |
72,000 lbs. |
For comparison:
• the average car on the road emits 11,450 lbs. of CO2 / year.
• you would need to plant 1.3 acres of trees to absorb the 9,600 lbs. of CO2 saved by a 3 kW system.
To calculate your current CO2 footprint, try one of these Carbon Calculators:
