Commissioner backs solar v electric car study

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has called for people to take heed of a report showing that electric cars help combat climate change, but solar panels do little.

The report released yesterday by Concept Consulting looks at the impact of both electric cars and solar panels on New Zealand’s carbon footprint. Read about the study HERE.

“If we are serious about tackling climate change, we must keep crunching the numbers. Sometimes the results will be surprising,” says Dr Jan Wright.

“Electric cars are a ‘no-brainer’. Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles are a big problem and getting worse. Electric cars must be part of our future.”

In contrast, the Concept report shows that solar panels do little to help in New Zealand. In winter the carbon dioxide emissions from generating electricity are at their highest. But solar panels are most effective in summer.

“Solar makes a lot of sense in many countries, but we need to play to our strengths”, says Dr Wright. “Wind farms, geothermal power plants, and electric cars will help us all year round.”

The Commissioner’s 2012 report on solar water heating highlighted the same seasonal mismatch.