“I think our solar panels make our home look beautiful. Not only does having solar increase our property value, but it says to our neighbors we support energy independence and care about the environment we leave behind for our children and grandchildren.”
–Melissa L, Clarksville, Maryland
Some people who claim to be pro-environment say they won’t go solar because they do not like how the panels look. This is surprising considering the devastating effect fossil fuels have had on the health of our planet. This proves beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Utility power polls could be considered ugly but they and all the power lines attached to houses are everywhere. They are so common that no one notices them anymore. The horseless carriage was considered ugly and noisy by most people when it made its debut but now it is the horse and buggy that is obsolete. When SUVs first came out, most people thought those were ugly too, but now you can see one in almost every neighbor’s driveway.
Solar adoption is increasing rapidly and panels on a home’s roof are becoming more commonplace, so soon this particular objection to going solar will disappear as well. In fact, according to a recent Pew Research report, “more U.S. homeowners say they are considering home solar panels than ever before”. Interest in going solar has increased 46% since 2016. But for those few hold-outs left, we thought sharing what we believe to be uglier, could possibly help change some minds. Feel free to share this with people you know who want to help the environment and save on their utility costs but still think solar panels are too ugly to do anything about it;
THREE THINGS MUCH UGLIER THAN SOLAR PANELS
1) POLLUTION
Air, land and water pollution from fossil fuels is hideous. If you are not solar-powered most of the energy your home uses comes from coal-fired power plants and/or dirty oil. Pollution destroys animals, plants and healthy ecosystems. It also kills humans from carcinogens and poison in water and food supplies.
Even people who do not believe climate change has anything to do with human activity dislike pollution. No one wants their children or grandchildren to get sick from poison in the air and water. One of the best things about the energy generated by solar panels is that it is emission free.
2) RISING UTILITY COSTS
What’s uglier than seeing your electricity bill growing bigger every month? Rate hikes are a never-ending fact of life now unless your home is solar-powered. Even if you are in the one percent of top income earners who doesn’t have to worry about watching your budget, saving thousands of dollars on energy costs and/or earning profits from your solar investment can’t be a bad thing. Most wealthy people like to save money and generate a strong return on their investments. Solar panels can do both.
3) WAR
Fighting over oil rights and relying on foreign governments who are not our friends for our energy supply is terrible and really, really ugly. America has the means to become more energy independent without drilling, mining and plundering our public lands. The sun above belongs to all of us.
Millions of American homeowners know this and proudly run their homes on sunshine. This is why a new solar system is now installed in America every 90 seconds.
Homes Without Solar Will Become Obsolete
Solar adoption across the USA is increasing every day. It won’t be long before almost all sunny neighborhoods are solar-powered and homes without solar panels in those neighborhoods will look outdated and passé. Until that day, however, showing those concerned with aesthetics that there are much uglier things to worry about then the way a clean energy system looks could help persuade them to switch to solar energy now instead of waiting until they become the only ones in their neighborhood who don’t have solar panels.
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