Renewable Energy

Beyond these social benefits, fossil fuel derived energy creates pollutants and increases levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This directly contributes to increasing global temperatures. The ocean buffers the atmosphere and absorbs much of this excess CO2 where the air and water meet. This has the effect of lowering the pH of the water, making it more acidic. Coral reefs cannot survive large or rapid changes in pH or temperature; both are occurring as a side-effect of fossil fuel use. Reducing the use of fossil fuels slows the rate of change and allows coral communities time to adapt.

Off-grid energy capacity greatly increases the overall social resilience of communities. Renewable energy sources such as solar panels prevent communities from depending entirely on municipal services. Particularly in areas frequently impacted by major storms or areas without highly efficient recovery infrastructure, interruptions in energy service impacts the availability of clean water, food security, and destabilizes local economies. Providing local renewable energy sources decreases the impacts of storms, earthquakes, and other disasters and accelerates the recovery and rebuilding process.

Project Links

Solar Panels Increasing Community Resilience