What’s better for the planet: going vegan or solar?

When salespeople knocked on my door a year ago trying to sell me solar panels, I refused, explaining that I couldn’t afford them and that I was already doing my part to fight against climate disaster by being vegan. But when they asked me if I was open to receiving more information, I agreed, mostly out of curiosity. Six months later, I had solar panels installed on my home.

While I’m glad I did, I stand by my original statement that the best way to protect the planet, as well as help animals, improve your own health, and save money, is to be vegan.

I’m not discouraging anyone from going solar if given the opportunity, but when you look at the bigger picture, going vegan – like I did 32 years ago – has an impact positive much more important.

I recently received an email from the company that supplies my solar panels, informing me that by 2023 my system had produced 5,500 kWh of electricity, which “is equivalent to offsetting the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than 5 acres of forest. in a year.”

My solar application, however, indicates that my panels generated about 6,500 kWh of electricity, enough to avoid the carbon dioxide emissions of 5,064 pounds of coal, 188 home barbecue propane bottles, and 517 gallons of gas.

It’s impressive either way. But I was even more impressed when I learned that researchers at the University of Oxford had discovered that vegans are responsible for around 75% less greenhouse gases, water pollution and land use than people who eat meat and other animal foods.

They also discovered that vegans help conserve water and prevent habitat destruction and wildlife extinction simply by not consuming meat, eggs and dairy.

Vegans also spare their thoughts and feel the horrible pain and suffering of animals. It is estimated that each vegan saves the lives of nearly 200 fish, chickens, pigs, cows and other animals each year.

The same cannot be said for solar panels!

Being vegan also has health benefits that installing solar panels obviously can’t match.

Eating foods from plants rather than animals reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other health problems. And vegan foods have never caused a pandemic, but confinement and killing of chickens, pigs and other animals leads to the spread of pathogens, including coronaviruses, which cause animal-borne illnesses such as bird flu and swine flu.

These are important reasons to go vegan, whether you have solar panels or not.

Of course, with money being a concern for almost everyone, the tax break for purchasing solar panels is worth considering. And the solar company’s sales representatives assured me that switching to solar would reduce my electric bill, although I probably wouldn’t see the savings for a year or two.

Two years? Being vegan allows me to save money every time I go grocery shopping.

A recent study from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found that people who go vegan reduce their food bills by 16%. On average, they save $500 a year just by giving up meat, cheese and other animal foods.

And when you take into account the money vegans are likely saving by not spending it on statins, blood pressure medications, or other medical expenses incurred due to conditions caused by eating vegan foods. animal origin fatty and rich in cholesterol, becoming vegan is downright economical.

If you have the option to go solar, it’s not a bad idea, but going vegan is the best way to reduce animal suffering, protect the planet, and prevent health problems related to solar energy. daily nutrition, even on cloudy days.

Heather Moore is a senior writer for the PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.PETA.org.