SAD VS. SOLAR FEELS GOOD
Updated February 13th, 2026
By Morgan Pierce
SAD. That’s what many – most – of us are feeling at this stage, as we look out at yet another day of rain, the flood waters rising in places they’ve never risen before.
The SAD I’m talking about is “Seasonal Affective Disorder”, the mood changes lots of us go through when the days get shorter and the weather closes in.
According to the HSE, symptoms of SAD, like other forms of depression, can include: persistently feeling low, loss of pleasure in everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair, tearfulness, feeling stressed or anxious, feeling less sociable and a reduced sex-drive.
I thought of SAD the other day when a headline in The Irish Times caught my eye. “Going fossil fuel-free at home: what will it cost and can it save you money?” The article went on to explain the ways in which changes to Government-backed grants will enable homeowners to make targeted upgrades. Individuals will be able to improve their homes energy efficiency without incurring the cost – by some estimates as much as €40,000 – of retrofitting their entire home at once.
It’s an informative piece, and an excellent follow on to our own comments on the subject, here: Home Retrofit and Solar for an Affordable, Greener Future. Both articles make clear the financial case for making changes that will affect how your home uses and conserves energy, and the incentive offered by the grants now on offer.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I try, mostly, to stick with the facts and figures that support going solar – and stay off my high horse. (Having learned long ago how easy it is to fall off…)
January, however, was the second wettest month on record – with February heading in the same direction. Those facts and the number of people around me who are literally “under the weather” are a pointed reminder of the moral case for going solar and that solar feels good.
There are some, even some in positions of power, who continue to sneer at or downplay the impact of climate change. During 2024’s US elections, for instance, Donald Trump, famously joked that global warming would simply mean “more oceanfront property”.
Science says otherwise.
Met Eireann warns that on our little island we will all need to get used to prolonged periods of heavy rain. Between 1980 – 2010 there was a 60mm (5%) increase in average annual rainfall, and current projections suggest that in coming years winter months will see a 20% increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation.
And according to a study conducted at the ICARUS Climate Institute at Maynooth University and Met Eireann, it was that type of prolonged daily rainfall prior to the arrival of Storm Chandra this month, that increased the severity of flooding across the country.
In the UK in early February, meanwhile, a local authority in a village in Wales decided to buy and demolish a row of 16 riverside houses as they can no longer be protected from flooding caused by climate change.
Solar Feels Good
One of the symptoms of SAD is inertia, the desire to hibernate ‘til it all goes away. The anecdote to that feeling is action and the hope that embracing “possibility” brings. Projections and estimates are not inevitable if we work collectively for change. Already, studies have shown that the roll out of solar in Ireland in recent years has led to a 6.8% reduction in our production of the greenhouse gases driving the climate crisis.
There are up to 1 million rooftops in the country suitable for solar, but even now less than 10% have made the switch. There is enormous benefit – both the personal financial kind and the “common good” kind – to be gained from embracing renewables for your home. Realising that makes the “cost-benefit analysis” a no-brainer. Solar is also a great cure for the February blues and solar feels good.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.
