What is Earth Day?

Earth Day is a celebration that was created in 1970 to honor and emphasize the protection of the planet. In the years leading up to this holiday, the world was going through a new period of unprecedented industrialization and automation. Visible byproducts of these advancements, like air and water pollution, began to get the attention of people who were concerned about what this meant for human and environmental health. One of those concerned individuals was Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson who gathered support originally on college campuses through teach-ins on environmental hazards. Senator Nelson and his team’s idea gained traction across the nation and reached around 20 million Americans through demonstrations and events, just in the first year. 20 years later, in 1970 the celebration went global to include 141 countries and more than 200 million people. Since then the movement has only grown with each year and soon we get to honor it on the 51st anniversary.

Making Earth Day 2021 Special

Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day was not at the forefront of everyone’s minds last year. But that means, with all of the progress that has been made in the past year, we will be able to celebrate it almost-normally again on April 22nd. The theme for Earth Day this year is “Restore our Earth”. Considering the times and all that we have learned throughout the extent of the pandemic, this theme is very fitting.

During the pauses in activity and periods of quarantine we made a lot of discoveries regarding human involvement’s role in climate change. There was a visible reduction in air and water pollution, restoration of several ecosystems, rebounding of species, and more. With this information we can see the clear effect that our activity has on the planet and how important our participation is in events like Earth Day. This year still may look a little different but there are still countless ways to get out there and make a difference!  

How Does Solar Energy Contribute?

Solar energy is a fantastic alternative to fossil fuels, which have a great impact on climate change. Renewable energy sources, like solar, are carbon-free and do not produce any other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. This helps to prevent things like air and water pollution that have negative effects on the environment as well as human health. It has also reduced carbon emissions by 110 million metric tons. Solar and other renewable energy sources are growing rapidly in terms of advancements and popularity, as people are recognizing their benefits more and more. 

Solar can have the greatest impact when it is widely used by as many people as possible. Despite the common misconception that it is too expensive, systems actually pay for themselves within a number of years. Whether it be for  home owners or business owners, you can start saving money on your energy bills the second that the panels are turned on. Solar is the most affordable right now than ever before, and this trend will only grow. Renewable energy has already made an incredible impact on the environment but with even more interest from people, it could be a huge key to “Restoring Our Earth”. 

How Has Renu Helped “Restore Our Earth”?

Renu is dedicated to supporting efforts to protect the Earth all year round! In our last 10 years of operating we have completed over 3,500 solar installations and off-set more than 2,500 tons of carbon. We believe in providing efficient fossil fuel alternatives like solar energy options because of the variety of environmental benefits that they offer. 

• Solar panels do not produce any air pollution or carbon dioxide
• Are a renewable energy source so they don’t deplete the planet’s resources
• And do not require any water to generate electricity like coal and natural gas

We are passionate about bringing solar to homes, businesses, and non-profit organizations because we believe in the importance of sustainable and affordable energy solutions. 

How Can You Celebrate This Year?

After everything that was happening last year on Earth Day we know how eagre people are to get out and participate in the festivities now. Even though the world is not quite back to normal yet, there are still several ways to participate in the celebration safely!

Here are some ideas on what you can do:

1. Spend time outside! You could go for a walk, run, hike, and so much more!

2. Start a garden where you can grow a wide variety of different plants and foods

3. Plant a tree

4. Organize a trash pick up, weather it just be you or a small group there are many places that need help getting cleaned up

5. Visit a local nature center, plant nursery, community garden, etc.

6. Participate in virtual Earth Day events 

There are so many things that you can do that are not limited to this list. No matter how you choose to spend the day, be sure that you are having a positive impact! If you are interested in doing your part for the planet by going solar, contact us today for your free consultation.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, March 25th, 2021 – Last month, the City of Charlotte began soliciting bids from qualified local solar installers to design and build solar PV systems at ten sites across the city, including Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and North Carolina Department of Transportation facilities. Collectively, these projects would provide approximately 874 kW of solar energy to Charlotte, contributing greatly to their efforts to convert the city to clean, renewable energy. 

On Monday, March 22nd City Council unanimously voted to award Renu Energy Solutions the Charlotte Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Initiative. 

This $1.6 million contract will include the design, engineering, and installation of solar panels, including both roof-mounted and ground-mounted arrays. Once constructed by Renu Energy Solutions, these solar systems will annually produce approximately one million kilowatt hours of zero-carbon electricity – the equivalent to powering 114 homes with solar energy!

The Charlotte Solar Photovoltaic Initiative is part of the city’s efforts to reach a goal of sourcing 100 percent of its energy use from renewable sources by 2030, with these solar projects expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022. These ambitious goals set by the Charlotte City Council were put forth into motion in December of 2018 when the council adopted the Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP), a resolution to aggressively combat the emissions and effects of greenhouse gasses. The SEAP addresses many actions to move toward a cleaner, healthier city, including efforts to improve Charlotte’s transportation system, water system, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the construction of new buildings, and energy generation, to name a few.

“Renu is proud to play a key role in the City of Charlotte solar initiative. We are honored to do our part to fulfill the City’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan and build the Charlotte of the future” says Andrew O’Donnell, the Director of Construction at Renu Energy Solutions. 

Founded in 2010, Renu Energy Solutions has completed over 3,300 solar installations in both the residential and commercial fields throughout the Carolinas. For more information on going solar, please visit us at renuenergysolutions.com. 

A Beginner’s Guide to Net Metering

One of the most useful developments in the solar industry has been the increasing popularity of net metering. Net metering is defined by the Solar Energy Industries Association as allowing “residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to sell the electricity they aren’t using back into the grid.” 

Because this has become so popular among solar customers, more and more information is constantly being released and searched by people looking to get the most out of their solar systems. We’re here to set all the details straight and explain net metering to you in a way that’s simple to understand; we want everyone who is eligible to be able to take advantage of the added savings you get!

How Does Net Metering Work?

Whether you’re just beginning your solar journey or you’re a seasoned professional, it pays (literally!) to know the ins and outs of net metering. In states that practice it, you can get more bang for your buck by saving an extra energy you solar panels produce and provide excess energy back to your utility company for credits on your utility account. 

Most homes and structures in the United States are connected to electrical grids that deliver them energy from power plants. Unless your house was specifically built to be detached from the grid and powered by an alternative energy source like off-grid solar, 

Some customers find that their solar panels are producing excess energy or that their home is using less than it once did, leaving them with a leftover source of electricity that’s going to waste. That’s where net metering comes into play –you can sign an agreement with your utility company to sell back any surplus and earn credits toward your electricity bill. This is a win-win for both parties because you are saving money on your bills while your provider doesn’t have to work overtime to provide energy for other customers because they are able to borrow yours. 

Additionally, if there ever comes a time where you are not producing as much energy as you should – whether it be due to inclement weather, a colder winter than normal, etc – you can use those built up credits to offset the extra cost of using more energy. When it’s been raining for several days in a row, your panels aren’t able to produce as much energy as it needed to power your home up to its normal standards, so you have to “borrow” it from the grid. This results in using up more energy which you would normally notice on your electricity bill, but not anymore! Thanks to those credits you earned by sending any excess energy back to your utility company, you will offset those extra costs and maintain your regular electricity payment. 

How To Know If You’re Eligible 

Now that you understand what net metering is and the benefits of it, you’re probably wondering if you qualify for this money-saving perk. There are a few requirements, the first being that you must have a solar panels system! If you already have solar, congratulations – you’re well on your way to saving even more with net metering. If you are looking to go solar, contact Renu Energy Solutions for a free consultation where we assess your home and the system that’s best for you. 

Benefits of Net Metering

There are so many benefits of solar energy in general, but here are a few that are specific to net metering:

1. It alleviates pressure on the grid.

The electrical grid doesn’t have to work as hard to share energy with customers because it’s able to borrow energy from homes with a surplus through net metering. Also, those who do produce and store their own electricity are able to use their excess energy in times of need, which allows them to not have to rely on the grid as often. 

Relieving stress from the electrical grid benefits both homeowners and utility companies because it makes it easier to distribute electricity to those who need it. For example, in the event of a heatwave, grids are often under extreme duress trying to keep up with the increased need for energy due to everyone cranking their HVAC systems. Thanks to net metering, solar customers who have stored their energy can power their own air conditioning and allow the grid to direct that electricity elsewhere. 

2. You have another way to access stored energy.

Typically, a battery backup system is the only way to access your energy surplus, in which you store the extra energy yourself. With net metering, you’re able to access the energy through the grid and the utility company, giving you another source to pull from if necessary. 

3. You save money!

This is the most obvious benefit – the savings! When the utility companies buy your excess energy, you’re earning credits that can significantly decrease your electricity bill. With these credits, you could potentially save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your solar system, eliminating your electricity bill altogether as long as your system is sized right for your home’s energy needs.

How Renu Energy Solutions Can Help

Going solar is a great decision for most homeowners and businesses, and including a solar battery backup system is a smart addition for the project. Renu Energy Solutions specializes in solar and battery backup installations — we’ve completed over 3,300 since our founding in 2010. 

If you’re a customer considering residential solar in North Carolina or South Carolina, look no further! Our experts at Renu can help you through each step of the process, from inquiring about which system would be best for your home, actually installing the system and panels, and any maintenance and troubleshooting long after the installation. 

For more information, give us a call or book a free solar consultation to get started! We look forward to hearing from you and doing our part to help you convert to clean, renewable energy.

Energy Saving Tips for Your Home in 2021

No matter the season, we’re always looking for energy saving tips to keep our utility bills low. To increase your energy efficiency, you need to do more than just use less energy, but actually understand how the energy is used! The first step toward saving money on your monthly bills is to become more conscious about the way your home uses electricity, heating, air conditioning, appliances, lighting, etc., so that you can make more of an effort to conserve wherever possible.

As solar experts, we at Renu Energy Solutions believe that energy is precious and should not be wasted — which is why we’re compiling a list of the best things you can do to conserve energy and save yourself money in the process. In this blog, we’ll discuss simple ways you can increase your energy efficiency and decrease your utility bills!  

Energy Saving Tips to Increase Energy Efficiency

Here are some of the simple ways you can save energy throughout your home that will help out so much in the long run:

1. Turn the lights off when you leave a room

This one is a no-brainer: if you’re not in the room, the lights shouldn’t be on. Lighting can account for up to 12.5 percent of your utility bill, so an easy way to cut back is to turn them off when you don’t need them. Use natural light whenever possible and take advantage of windows in your home!

2. Use cold or lukewarm water when possible, and be conscious of how much you’re using.

When washing your clothes, dishes, or taking showers, hot water requires more energy. If at all possible, using cold or lukewarm water can limit the amount of energy it takes to complete those tasks — as long as you’re still getting clean! Some people prefer to wash their clothes and dishes on high heat, but with the right soaps and detergents you can still get that fresh and clean feel with room-temperature water, it doesn’t need to be steaming! 

Speaking of water-related energy saving tips, always be aware of how much water you are using. If you can’t give up your hot showers, that’s fine! We get that! Consider limiting your steam sessions to 5 minutes or less to give your water heater a break and cut costs there. Try to only do loads of laundry or run the dishwasher when it’s full; doing half of a load or only washing a few pieces of clothing at once is a big no-no when it comes to energy efficiency. 

3. Air seal your home and replace old windows. 

If you live in an older home, chances are there are some drafty areas of the house or old windows that are letting your precious heating and air conditioning seep out into the world. By sealing your home, you can save up to $200 a year in heating and cooling costs, and by replacing the windows, you can save anywhere from $150-500 depending on on the size of your home!

4. Turn electronics off and unplug when you’re not using them.

As far as energy saving tips go, this is one of the easiest things you can do. When you’re not watching TV, turn it off. When you’re done working, unplug the computer, printer, fax machine, etc. Along those lines, also make sure to unplug devices when they’re finished charging. Your phone doesn’t need all night to fully charge, but it will still consume energy — which is going to be wasted! 

5. Turn off ventilation fans as soon as possible. 

Ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms are used to bring fresh air into the rooms after use, but they bring in air from the outside. This means that they are actively swapping your air conditioning and heating for outdoor air, which is wasteful and adds pressure to your HVAC system to further heat or cool the air that was replaced. When you’re done using the ventilation fans, make sure to turn them off so that you don’t waste any more energy. 

6. Regularly replace the filters in your home.

Dirty air filters make your system work harder to make up for the lack of air circulation. When dirt, dust, and other contaminants build up on the filter, it makes it harder for heating and air conditioning to break through, putting them on overtime. Your home registers that even though the air is on, the temperature in your home isn’t changing, so it exerts extra energy to compensate. Having clean, clear filters make it easier for air to circulate through your home and allow your system to heat and cool as efficiently as possible. 

7. GO SOLAR!

To round out our list of energy saving tips, we had to save the best for last. To save as much energy and money as possible in the long run, a solar power system is the way to go! For the average sized home in the United States, a 6 kW solar system could save you around $1,500 annually. All of these tips are great ways to conserve energy and cut costs, but if you want significant changes to your carbon footprint and utility bill, going solar is a great way to achieve both of those goals. To learn more about what you can get with solar, check out our blog “Benefits of Solar.”

Going Solar with Renu Energy Solutions

As a solar company, we’re always looking out for new energy saving tips to help our customers, but installing solar panels will always be our favorite! Whether you’re still toying with the idea or you’re completely ready to go solar, Renu can help you find the best option for you and your home. With over 3,300 commercial and residential solar installations, we pride ourselves on our experience and have completed projects of all shapes and sizes. Plus, there are additional ways to save on your system with residential solar tax incentives!

If you’re interested in converting to clean, renewable energy by going solar, contact us today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to help guide you through the solar journey from beginning to end.