Benefits
![Picture](/uploads/9/5/3/7/95373776/sod-environment.png?198)
By using poly-crystalline photovoltaic (PV) cells, there will be no gaseous, liquid, chemical, or radioactive pollutants spreading through the environment. PV modules provide electricity without the use of fossil fuels, which results in no release of greenhouse emissions. The University of Houston’s electricity is powered by fossil fuels, and by using PV energy we can partially reduce the use of those fossil fuels. It is an environmentally clean way to make energy by using the energy from the sun.
With the reliance of PV cells for electrical power, there will be avoidance of electrical power lines (pylons) and wire installation in the surrounding environment of the parking lot. With the partial reduction of power lines, we will create more open environment and increase the cleaner environment visual.
With the reliance of PV cells for electrical power, there will be avoidance of electrical power lines (pylons) and wire installation in the surrounding environment of the parking lot. With the partial reduction of power lines, we will create more open environment and increase the cleaner environment visual.
Risks
During the construction period of PV cells at the University of Houston, the noise could disrupt homes and the area surrounding the parking lot. As usual, the loud noise from the installment could scare away birds in the environment as well as squirrels and other living organisms.
The majority of the material needed to construct the PV cells will have to be transported by trucks and vans to and from the campus parking lot. The transportation of the materials will spread emissions in the air, but the risks are very minimal.
Waste disposal of material also creates risks on the environment during the construction process. The packaging of the materials, or the trash from the construction may not be degradable or recyclable. The process of disposing the trash is harmful, though for this project could be of minimal risk.
PV cells are energy intensive, therefore a bulk of materials are needed during the production stage of the installation process. The production stage needs small-scale use of natural resource like Gallium (Ga) to produce thin film used in the poly-crystalline cell module. This leads to a small-scale depletion of Ga, a semiconductor element made by smelting.
The majority of the material needed to construct the PV cells will have to be transported by trucks and vans to and from the campus parking lot. The transportation of the materials will spread emissions in the air, but the risks are very minimal.
Waste disposal of material also creates risks on the environment during the construction process. The packaging of the materials, or the trash from the construction may not be degradable or recyclable. The process of disposing the trash is harmful, though for this project could be of minimal risk.
PV cells are energy intensive, therefore a bulk of materials are needed during the production stage of the installation process. The production stage needs small-scale use of natural resource like Gallium (Ga) to produce thin film used in the poly-crystalline cell module. This leads to a small-scale depletion of Ga, a semiconductor element made by smelting.