Photo by: Pixabay user Seagul

Renewable electricity projects and energy efficiency measures can improve health and reduce air pollution.

 

Creating electricity from clean energy sources like wind and solar—and cutting energy demand—reduces the need for fossil fuel power generation. That increases energy independence and lowers emissions of harmful gases like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. This helps reduce premature deaths, heart attacks, asthma exacerbations, and hospitalization for cardiovascular or respiratory issues.

Research from the Harvard Chan School is focused on:

  • Exploring how different transportation policies could influence health through better air quality and increases in physical activity.
  • The energy, economic, environmental, and health outcomes of an illustrative clean energy standard design that reaches 80% clean electricity by 2030.
  • Where to install renewable energy to get the greatest climate and health benefits in the U.S. and around the world.

An 80x30 Clean Electricity Standard: Carbon, Costs, and Health Benefits

The energy, economic, environmental, and health outcomes of an illustrative clean energy standard design that reaches 80% clean electricity by 2030.

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This video breaks down the science behind our paper on the health benefits of a low carbon energy policy, and explores how renewable energy is good for our health.

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