There was so much interest in sustainable energy solutions when Yes! Solar Solutions of the Triangle joined us in the Education Tent last week, that we decided to talk with Kathy Miller, Vice President of the Cary company, to learn more.
Yes! Solar Solutions has shifted its focus in the last year to a more holistic look at sources of energy use and how you can conserve, Kathy said. So Yes! offers a range of energy assessment tools, where an energy specialist will walk through your home to advise you on simple ways to cut back on your spending and conserve energy. For instance, he may suggest adding a hot water heater blanket, sealing ducts, adding weather stripping to windows, or installing remote control turn-offs for your home electronics. These changes can mean real savings.
The company also can talk with you about how photovoltaic solar panels and solar thermal hot water can help you save some green while you go green. “When people want to re-landscape their whole yard, but don't want to spend a ton of money at once on it, they have a landscape architect come in and provide them with a plan they can put to use over time,” Kathy said. “That's similar to our goal. Let's see what we can do to help you be more efficient and put a plan together to make it happen.”
Rebates, Tax Credits and Cutting Energy Bills
Kathy said that there are rebates out there for all sorts of efficiencies. For instance, new windows, improved heating and air conditioning, or insulation. Yes! Solar Solutions keeps track of rebates to help its customers defray the cost of sustainable energy by cashing in on these rebates.
Kathy also pointed out that there is a 30% federal tax credit for solar energy, in addition to a 35% tax credit for North Carolina residents. “Say you spend $10,000 on a solar system; you can take $3,000 off your federal tax bill, plus 35% off your state tax bill. So a $10,000 system may end of costing you only about $3,500,” Kathy said.
In terms of return on your monthly utility bill, it depends on your home and your energy usage, Kathy said. Yes! Solar Solutions has a customer renting a 108-year-old home in downtown Cary. “The first eight months they lived there, the electric bills were so high,” Kathy said. “But now their bills are almost half of what they were, just since they installed the solar thermal hot water heater.”
Savings in a newer home, by comparison, will vary depending on the home and usage pattern. Kathy also noted that additional savings come when you are paid by the utility for the electricity you produce with solar power. Wow--a utility will pay me? Now that's intriguing... Kathy said that the company receives several hundred dollars each month for the electricity produced at its warehouse, which has the photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.
Solar Schooling
Yes! Solar Solutions offers free educational seminars at its store, with the next one on August 21. It is a layman's overview of the technology behind solar energy, as well as installation--a great way to get schooled on solar energy. While it's free, Yes! does ask that people sign up in advance because space is limited.
Kathy and her husband Stew, who is president of the company, feel that what they are doing at Yes! is important for the next generation. “This a big piece to the puzzle of solving our fossil fuel problem. Using fossil fuels the way we are now is just not going to be sustainable for the next 100 years.” Check out the web site or stop by the store to learn more about how you can improve energy efficiency in your home and harness the power of sunny North Carolina skies.
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