Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about solar power. Some people call it an expensive fad, and others say that it’s going to save the planet someday soon. Somewhere in the middle of these two things, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the immediately observable benefits of solar. 

Could solar power improve my life and the lives of those around me? What are the benefits of solar energy to the environment? Could I really save money by installing solar cells? Let me show you what I’ve learned, and you can decide the answers to those questions for yourself.

What effect does solar power have on health?

The act of putting solar panels on your roof isn’t going to immediately improve your posture, straighten your teeth and give you the ability to play the piano. However, as more and more people invest in solar power, it could have a lasting effect on human health in general. 

Because solar energy creates almost no air pollution in comparison to fossil fuels, it can lead to better air quality. Better air quality means fewer health problems. People who experience high levels of air pollution are more likely to suffer from decreased lung function and added stress on the heart and lungs, which, all totalled, can mean a shortened life span. Yikes. 

There’s also an argument out there that solar energy saves water. Hydropower and nuclear power, which are also both alternatives to using fossil fuels, use a lot of water that could otherwise be used somewhere else. Both of these alternatives have their own benefits, but water is becoming a more and more precious resource, and so if you’re looking for a way to use energy without consuming water, this might be your answer.

What about the environment?

Maybe the biggest benefit that solar power can offer the environment is that it doesn’t contribute to global warming. Since solar energy doesn’t produce any CO2, it isn’t speeding along global warming the way many scientists believe that fossil fuels are. Global warming is a threat to many different animals, plants, and ecosystems, and solar power might be able to slow the process, even if only by a little bit. 

There are animals who are directly negatively impacted by fossil fuels, particularly if they live in areas with a lot of fossil fuel activity. Animals like the Bowhead whale and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle are becoming threatened by the changes and activity in their environment. If widely used, solar power, while of course not perfect, might have the potential to reduce the threat to these animals. 

Other people argue that solar powers are made of non-biodegradable materials, and that the act of building and installing these panels isn’t good for the environment. There’s many different angles to this issue, and I think we should all take some time to consider them individually, and decide how important each factor is.  

And my wallet?

It might not be as noble as the other two considerations, but it’s definitely something we all think about. The answer to this one is that it depends. Some states get drastically more sunshine than others, which means more power generated. Unsurprisingly, states like California, Hawaii, Texas and Arizona reap the benefits of incredible average amounts of sunshine per year. An important step in getting solar cells is to find out just how much sunlight your state gets, and how much of that you’ll be able to convert into energy.  

There’s also a big difference in the benefits offered by state governments. Depending on the state, your government will offer (or not offer) certain incentives to go solar. Some states are pushing strongly for solar, while it’s less of a priority for others. Do a little research on the laws and benefits that affect solar power where you live, and you’ll be able to calculate exactly what the costs and benefits will be for you individually.