Set up solar, or save a tree? It’s complicated
4/28/202612 min
To solar or not to solar? That is the question for this latest episode of our monthly series Nature Quest. For listener Darcey Hughes, installing solar panels isn’t just about keeping her utilities free of fossil fuels – it’s also a way to become fully self-reliant and save some money each month. But there’s a catch: She might have to chop down a large, shading cedar tree. Today, we investigate: When is solar worth it? And is it worth the price of an old, majestic tree?
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Emily Kwong· Host0:14
[shortwave music] You're listening to Short Wave from NPR.
Hannah Chin0:19
Happy spring, Short Wavers. I'm producer Hannah Chin, and my Nature Quest buddy, Emily Kwong, is also here- Hi, Hannah ... with a story about an age-old question for homeowners. Namely, should I cut down that big tree in my front yard?
Emily Kwong· Host0:35
Yeah, to chainsaw [chainsaw revs] or not to chainsaw? That is the question. Darcy Hughes lives a few miles north of Seattle, Washington, and has got this big, towering cedar tree that grows right next to her house.
Darcy Hughes0:50
And right now we've got a few birds up there, and a few crows, of course. [crows cawing] It's generally pretty peaceful here.
Emily Kwong· Host1:01
Cedars are evergreens, so all year long, this tree casts a long, dappled shadow over her front yard.
Darcy Hughes1:09
Really no direct sunlight comes through these branches at all.
Emily Kwong· Host1:15
[crows cawing] And Darcy wants to know, should she keep the tree or cut it down to install solar panels on her roof?
Hannah Chin1:23
Okay, so really the question should be to solar or not to solar.
Emily Kwong· Host1:27
Yes. Now, there are nearly six