Climate change has always been discussed in our society in a theoretical context. With the help of education institutions, political figures, and several leading brands, international organizations are coming up with comprehensive plans and strategies to make people more aware of the repercussions of global warming.
Over the years, multiple NGOs have been reiterating the dire consequences of climate change if the environmental deterioration is not brought under control on time. So, why do people across the globe turn a blind eye to this changing face of our planet?
As a human race, we base our line of thought on tangible facts. To put it plainly, unless we see the outcomes right before our eyes, we consider everything to be under control.
In this sense, the last two years have been transformational. As our world is still combating a global pandemic, people across countries witnessed mass deaths, medical crises, financial loss, and more. This marked the triumph of nature over humans, forcing us to come up with a futuristic climate action plan today.
In this article, we will discuss the meaning, features, and advantages of electrification — one of the best approaches to tackle carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. In simple terms, electrification effectively replaces technologies that deploy fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal with electric technologies.
According to numerous research studies, electrification can drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sectors, transportation, and buildings. There are many other renewable energy solutions that are massively contributing to building a net-zero future, like solar panels, hydropower, windmills, and more.
Below we have carefully curated a list of advantages one can leverage by embracing electrification in their homes, industries, businesses, and automobiles:
- There has been a sharp rise in gas prices in several countries. Many countries are dependent on other countries for resources like oil and gas. However, by accelerating electrification, governments can save a massive amount of capital while being self-sufficient.
- All-electric transitions include solar panel installations and electric vehicles, resulting in several jobs in the near future. Since electrification technology and renewable energy sources require special skilled professionals and technicians, it will open up a new branch in the electrical sector. In addition, by providing jobs, electrification will also help the economic growth of the country.
- In comparison with mixed-fueled homes that are heavily dependent on gas, electrification technology has proven to be less expensive. Why is that? Mixed-fueled homes are equipped with water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, etc., that run on gas, resulting in high utility bills.
- Electric appliances fueled by gas emit a broad range of air pollutants. [1] Therefore, the indoor air is considered more polluted than the air outside. For instance, homes with gas stoves carry increased levels of nitrogen dioxide compared to homes that use electric stoves.
Every novel technology comes with its pros and cons. As our world is being embracive of multiple electric and technological advancements, they tend to forget that growth and development, in any sector, come with a price. Here are some disadvantages of electrification technology:
- First and foremost, electrification is expensive, which is why it is not a very viable option for a small business or organization. On the other hand, once enterprises invest in electric technology, they can reap a range of benefits for several years. Therefore, it proves to be a smart one-time investment.
- One of the biggest disadvantages of electric technology is that it is exclusively designed to operate on one energy source: electricity. In case of an outage or power failure, the all-electric appliance will fall flat and won’t be able to function or deliver. Hence, if you invest in electric technologies, it is best to back them with alternate energy sources like inverters and generators.
- Lastly, as most people know, electric power poses a serious threat to human life. Therefore, while using it, one has to be careful by taking protective measures like wearing rubber gloves/slippers, avoiding direct contact with wet hands, keeping children away from electric equipment, etc.
Make net-zero a reality with Schneider Electric
At Schneider Electric, our team of experts provides best-in-class automation and digital energy solutions for seamless productivity and efficiency. Additionally, we take pride in our diversified and expansive portfolio of products and services that cater to data centers, buildings, homes, industries, and infrastructure.
As a leading organization, we hold an edge in the market with our future-driven sustainability goals. In order to seamlessly bridge the gap between progress and sustainability, we take numerous pledges and actionable steps to make the future bright, better, and sustainable for our future generations. Here is an insight into some of the many features of our Schneider Sustainability Impact (2021-2025):
- Promise to grow our green revenue by 80%.
- Plan to train about 1 million underprivileged people in the field of energy management.
- Accelerating the use of green material [2] content in all-out products by 50%.
- 100% of our secondary and primary packaging is already free from plastic. As an alternative, we prefer using recycled cardboard.
Explore our website today to learn more about our products, solutions, and services.