MI: Seventeen Ann Arbor Homes Go Solar

Source: Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA), 9/27/05
Date: 9.29.05

Seventeen homes in the Ann Arbor area will soon be using clean, renewable solar energy to help meet their electric or hot water needs thanks to the Go Solar Ann Arbor program, an initiative aimed at making solar power more affordable and accessible for Ann Arbor homeowners. The program helps homeowners to use green energy and also save on the cost of purchasing and installing solar electric and solar water heating systems.

The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) is managing the Go Solar Ann Arbor program as part of a grant from the Michigan Energy Office to help increase the solar energy market in Michigan. The Ann Arbor program has partnered with the Ann Arbor Energy Office and Shepherd Advisors to create what has become a very successful program. A survey revealed that the two main barriers to purchasing solar energy systems for homes were finding qualified installers and the high initial cost of a renewable energy system. The Go Solar program addressed the problem of lack of information by holding free informational seminars in Ann Arbor earlier last spring. Each of the two seminars that were offered turned out capacity crowds, reaching a total of 120 people, and the program’s enrollment limit was reached quickly. The seminars covered how the solar energy systems work, how they can be expected to perform in Michigan, and how the Go Solar program works to save enrollees money. Go Solar Ann Arbor offers participants the ability to purchase either a one-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (electric) system or an 80-gallon solar domestic hot water system. Enrollees were drawn by the promise of the program to offer savings through a bulk purchase of solar energy materials as well as through standardized installations, property tax discounts, and waived design fees.

Ann Arbor-based renewable energy contractor S.U.R. Energy Systems was chosen as the installer for the program by an independent review panel. Program participants are able to support the local economy, as well as being guaranteed local accountability for the installations. Owner/operator John Wakeman is enthusiastic about the project, remarking, "This has been a great program for our company. The assistance with marketing in our home territory has been very valuable. This type of program would improve 9 out of 10 solar contracting companies."

Participants can also take pride in the contributing to the "greening" of Ann Arbor. Once all of the systems are in place, they will save well over eight tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually. Offsetting this amount of emissions is equivalent to planting 1000 trees. With increasing concern over global climate change, these figures represent a significant step homeowners can take towards more sustainable energy use in the community. For participant AT Miller, becoming involved was a chance to fulfill a longtime goal. "We are very excited about the Go Solar Ann Arbor program. Each day we hear more and more about issues of global warming and harm to the planet as well as about rising fossil fuel energy costs. For a long time we've wanted to have solar or wind energy at our home, but didn't know where to start and were worried about the cost. When I learned about Go Solar Ann Arbor at the Ann Arbor Recycle Center, it addressed both of those issues in one program. We picked up the literature and signed on as soon as we could. We're really excited about installing our new system and getting both the sun and savings flowing into our home while helping the planet!"

Year 2 of the Go Solar Ann Arbor program will be starting up early in 2006. For more information contact the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association at 517-646-6269 or info@glrea.org .

Send an email to the author, Brendan Schauffler, Program Coordinator, at brendan.schauffler@glrea.org