First Purple Heart Home in North Carolina

First Purple Heart Home in North Carolina Built with Solar

DENVER, N.C., Nov. 20, 2018- Local disabled veteran, Angela Cherico and her family are the first recipients of a nearly complete home built by Purple Heart Homes in Denver, N.C. that will come equipped with a SunPower® solar system. Donated by SunPower and installed by Renu Energy Solutions, the system will provide Cherico with greater energy independence, lower electric bills, and added peace of mind.

“My daughter and I will have two of the most important things: stability and security,” said Cherico, whose service experience included two deployments to Iraq. She continues that while there, exposure to burn-pits may be responsible for her ongoing breathing problems, complicated further by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and back and neck pain.

Thanks to local solar energy company Renu Energy Solutions installing high quality SunPower solar panels on the home, Cherico and her family can enjoy lower electricity bills. By spending less on utility costs, the Chericos will have more freedom in their budget for other important things. Plus, they’re happy to have access to clean, renewable energy.

Reducing monthly energy costs is already a goal for Purple Heart Homes. Energy-efficient appliances and good insulation are standard for the organization. However, this project marks the first Purple Heart Home in North Carolina to go solar. Renu Energy Solutions company President Jay Radcliffe says of the partnership, “We’ve been installing solar since 2010 and have seen many satisfied customers. But being able to give back through Purple Heart Homes to someone who has made tremendous sacrifices is really special.”

Renu Energy Solutions, a Charlotte-based solar installation contractor, installed the SunPower-donated solar energy system at no cost to Angela Cherico, the future homeowner. A solar rebate from Duke Energy helped bring solar to this home. This solar incentive from the utility remains available throughout 2019 and has no income limits to qualify.

About Renu Energy Solutions

Founded in 2010, Renu Energy Solutions is a Charlotte, N.C.-based full service solar energy installer in the Carolinas, and developer of clean energy projects across the country. By analyzing the financial benefits of a project, Renu Energy’s experts help facilitate solar adoption.

About Purple Heart Homes

Purple Heart Homes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Dale Beatty and John Gallina, two Iraq combat wounded veterans on a mission to provide housing solutions for Service Connected Disabled and Aging Veterans that are substantial in function, design, and quality. Purple Heart Homes has two programs: Veterans Aging in Place (VAIP), which encompasses the Operation Veterans Home Renovation Project (OVHR), and The Veterans Home Ownership Program (VHOP). From building a ramp for wheelchair-bound veterans to providing home ownership opportunities to veterans with physical as well as invisible injuries, Purple Heart Homes’ programs are designed out of necessity and fit the specific needs of veterans of all ages and from all eras, helping them to live and age in place, in their own safe, accessible and sustainable homes. For more information, visit (www.phhusa.org). Purple Heart Homes – Improving Veterans’ Lives One Home at a Time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar for Your Home:

How exactly does going solar and a solar system itself work?

Solar energy begins with sunlight that hits the panels to produce energy that flows into your inverter, which converts the DC energy into Alternating Current (AC) electricity that can be used to power your home. This same energy is then consumed when powering your home’s light, appliances, gizmos, and gadgets. If you feel your home isn’t producing the energy that it needs, the utility will fill in the gaps. If you system produces more energy than needed, that energy will go to the grid and your utility will credit you for the unused power.

How many solar panels do I need for my home?

At Renu Energy Solutions we design our solar panel systems size based on three main factors.

Roof-size/available space: When we look at the size of your roof and the space available, we gather data that tell us the maximum number of solar panels your home or site can hold and we even consider shading. We use a software “Suneye” which takes a 360 picture of your roof and we use this photo to determine if your home is a good candidate for solar.

Energy Usage: When we determine energy usage we look at your past electrical bills from over the course of a year to make sure your system isn’t too big or too small.

Your Budget: We take your budget seriously and most importantly, we want you to be satisfied with our services. We take your feedback on how much you want to spend so that we can size your system appropriately.

What is solar net-metering?

Net-metering is a type of utility policy that controls how your system is connected to the grid and how you are credited for the solar energy you produce.

Does Duke Energy offer net-metering?

Yes! Both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress territories in NC offer net-metering when your homes goes solar. If you are interested in net-metering, no worries. Our team will guide you through the process as certain utilities have a different application procedure.

Curious about the cost of a home solar system?

When our clients ask this question, we immediately tell Tham about the federal tax credit that comes with going solar. The Federal tax credit for going solar is 26% in 2020. For example, if the total cost of you system was $22,000, when you subtract 26% you are then left with a %16,280 solar system. There is not set price for a home going solar as there are many factors that contribute to the total cost. The price of a solar home can range from $10k to $100k based on the size of your roof, energy usage, aesthetic preferences, and of course, budget.

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Home Solar System

The amount of electricity that a solar energy system will produce will depend on a number of factors, including the location of the home, system design, and much more. Ideally, a home with an unobstructed south-facing view will produce more than enough energy.

Energy Storage

Installing battery backup along with your solar energy system for home or business is a smart move and can increase the value of your clean energy investment as well as peace of mind when a grid outage occur.

EV Chargers

Electric cars – with no gas engine at all – now work for most budgets and lifestyles. With more and more models to choose from, drivers are choosing electric vehicles (or EVs) than ever before!

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