Cities all over the world are searching for new ways to create a more sustainable future in light of escalating urbanization and the pressing issues related to the environment. A strong emerging solution is the potential of solar energy within urban development. Because urban centres are growing and energy demands are ever-increasing, solar energy is an excellent source of clean, renewable energy to contribute to urban sustainability in its declining cost.
Urban Challenges and Renewable Energy Strategies
Although occupying only about 3% of the Earth’s surface area, cities consume over 75% of the world’s energy and generate more than 60% of yearly global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Living in cities comes with an incredible burden on the environment, starting with what we build, how we travel and the very people who produce energy-consuming activities in dense urban centres already.
For urban centres to prepare for the resilience of climate change, mythige pollution and the construction of cleaner and healthier spaces, cities must be responsible and reduce fossil fuels and renewable energy alternatives must be replaced or transferred.
This is where solar energy comes into play – literally and figuratively.
Clean energy with scale
Solar energy systems, particularly the applications of solar photovoltaic panels (PV), use sunlight energy and generate electricity without releasing pollutants or GHG emissions. This is important in the urban context because air quality in cities is often affected by extra vehicles, factory emissions and energy production emissions.
In many cities, such as Oklahoma City, solar energy is already having an impact on changing the energy economy. Oklahoma City has ample sunlight and increased local support of clean energy, and Oklahoma City solar energy projects are giving residents and businesses a chance to reduce their environmental footprint and put cash back in their pockets.
Reducing Energy Costs and Resiliency:
Urban sustainability is much more than good environmental practices – it is also about economic and social resilience. Solar energy systems generate long-term cost savings, reducing (or eliminating) dependence on the energy of the grid. After the installation of solar panels, owners and companies will decrease their electricity bills and get even more significant economies if batteries are installed.
In addition, the nature of solar energy installations can also add to the resiliency of city energy. Solar homes and businesses (especially using battery energy storage systems ) can continue producing energy while experiencing natural disasters, cyber-hacking, or dependency on a power grid.
Resiliency is important in urban environments since a small power failure can easily affect transportation, healthcare, and any other appropriate service.
Solar Energy and Smart Cities:
The liquid positive effects of solar energy on urban sustainability have been amplified with the emergence of intelligent city technologies, as solar energy helps feed intelligent grids, energy-efficiency buildings and IoT-skilled systems. For example, solar-powered sensors can measure air pollution data (which is in the air) and transport data (as people are travelling).
Examples of solar carports, electric vehicle (EV) stations, and buildings with integrated solar are now being implemented in some of the more dynamic urban settings. Solutions such as these provide a way to decrease a city’s carbon footprint and encourage urban developments that fit with sustainable practices – promoting other modes of transportation and sustainable construction.
Urban Planning with Solar
More urban planners are considering solar energy as part of the design of a city when developing plans and projects as an actual construction building material to implement. These applications could include physically aligning the building on a property so that it faces north with south-facing windows to collect the most sunlight, solar rooftop materials, and zoning laws to encourage the ease of use of solar energy.
As in other cities, Oklahoma City is taking its initial steps of implementing solar energy into residential and commercial developments. After analysis (and implementation), city leaders believe that the economic benefits of solar energy will transcend households and benefit other layers of local development. Ultimately, officials believe that solar energy has a greater potential as an infrastructure improvement and, by doing so, extends the local economy while creating jobs. Increasing numbers of Oklahoma City residents are also opting to use local businesses that particularly specialize in solar panel construction, installation, maintenance or consulting, thereby helping to build a local green economy.
The Future is Bright
As cities gain population and complexity and hardships occur, there has never been a better moment for towns to be community-oriented, livable, resilient, and ecologically conscious. Oklahoma City solar energy is one of the most accessible and effective tools we can apply to address sustainability in cities and in urban living. As costs continue to decrease and technology continues to improve, solar energy is rapidly moving from a luxury good to a sustainable urban life need. At the same time, public awareness continues to grow.
In places like Oklahoma City, solar represents the future for sustainable green development. Overall, cities can not only have less of an impact on the environment while minimizing energy costs and improving the health of ourselves and our communities, but cities can embrace an energy-efficient future with better options for all.
