One of my friends - let’s call him Chris - admits that he doesn’t care much about environmental issues. For him, the jury is still out on climate change and recycling is an inconvenience rather than a civic duty. Making matters worse, Chris also drives a beat-up gas guzzler, which he affectionately calls “old faithful,” and he plans to keep cruising in that vehicle until it dies and spews out its final breath of black smoke.

Believe it or not, though, Chris was greatly determined to have solar panels installed on the roof of his new house - a decision he made long before signing the mortgage about a year ago. A few weeks after moving in, he had a rooftop array. “But why?” I asked him. And he answered, “To save money.”

While walking through the exhibit hall and chatting with folks during the recent Intersolar North America show, I realized how fortunate it is for the industry that solar has two innate selling points: environmental benefits and economic gains. Obviously, Chris paid no mind to the former factor when he added his installation, but does that really matter? The solar sector gained another supporter, the installer earned some more money, and as expected, Chris slashed his electricity bill. As a plus, his choice might have helped make our energy landscape a bit cleaner. That’s a win-win-win for the solar industry, my friend and the planet.

Of course, many other solar adopters have turned to the renewable energy for sustainability reasons first and foremost. Going green is a growing trend, as homeowners, sports arenas, tech firms, retailers, schools and municipalities around the world are becoming more concerned about their environmental footprints.

For example, home furnishings giant IKEA aims to be energy independent by 2020 by offsetting all of the electricity it consumes with company-owned renewable energy. To meet that goal, the retailer has invested heavily in wind and solar power globally, installing solar arrays atop dozens of its stores in the U.S. alone.

Some companies strongly advertise their solar efforts, too, and understandably so - renewables are good for a company’s public image. However, once the ribbon-cutting ceremony is over and the press coverage fades, a company is still left with a power purchase agreement or an installation. Therefore, it’s fair to say not many, if any, companies get into solar strictly for the publicity or even the environmental upside. Solar is a long-term commitment, a business investment, and according to the myriad news and announcements I come across every day, it’s a smart investment with major savings.

Regardless of what an adopter’s initial motive is, solar has become increasingly popular, even among complacent polluters. Curious homeowners or companies might come for the environmental benefits, but they stay for the economic ones. Or, as Chris did, they might skip the environmental consideration altogether. Either way, they can expect to save some cash.

If you’ll be attending the Solar Power International conference in Las Vegas this month, take a minute to look around at all of the booths and eye-catching displays. Ask yourself: Isn’t it awesome to be part of an industry that makes money while inherently doing something good?