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. 

7 Things to Consider About Solar for Businesses

Solar for businesses is more popular than ever. As solar power continues to grow as an option for powering homes, many business owners have wondered how they can benefit from the clean energy route as well — resulting in commercial solar becoming as popular as residential solar. We’ve seen these commercial projects pop up just about everywhere from schools to churches to parking decks, both on the rooftops of buildings and mounted on the ground.

If you’re a business owner who’s considering commercial solar, there are many upsides to converting to clean, renewable energy. While each solar project is unique, there’s a list of things to consider that are universal. In this blog, we’ll go through all of the important things to consider about solar for businesses and how you can benefit from it. 

What to Consider for Commercial Solar Projects

Before taking the plunge into solar energy, here are a few things you should know about it to make the best decision for your business:

1. Your energy needs. 

The very first thing you should consider is the energy needs of your business, school, farm, or whatever the project may be. How much are you spending on utilities each month? Each year? Do you have a large factory to heat in the winter? Or maybe you have a large medical facility that powers vital machinery for treating patients. There are so many types of businesses that have their own specific requirements, and learning the most you can about yours will help you choose the right system. Find or create a 6-month to year long analysis of your energy consumption and determine how much you’re using – this will help you to calculate the solar system size you would need to install to meet those energy needs, ensuring you are able to keep up the means of production. 

2. What form of solar system the business site will require. 

If you have a large rooftop area, solar panels on the roof may be your best option. However, you need to consider if that roof faces the sun, if there are large trees or other buildings blocking sunlight from reaching the roof, or if the area on the roof is otherwise occupied. If any of these are issues that may arise, ground-mounted solar panels are the way to go! These allow you to build a solar canopy to house your panels and place it wherever would be the most suitable for maximum sun exposure. 

3. The climate in which you operate. 

A major thing to consider about going solar is the climate in which your business resides. While solar panels do work on cloudy days, if you live in an area that is habitually cloudy or rainy, commercial solar might not be the wisest choice for you as the system relies on sunlight to be converted into electricity. A few rainy days here and there won’t stop your solar panels from operating as needed, but they only generate up to about 25% of their potential energy when the sun isn’t shining. However, if you see mostly sunny days, commercial solar is the perfect option for your company! 

4. Your business’ impact on the environment. 

If yours if the type of business, school, farm, etc., that requires massive amounts of energy and has any type of output on the environment such as water runoff or the burning of fossil fuels, commercial solar would be an excellent way to help negate some of those effects and improve your carbon footprint. This would not only benefit your company, but also the community in which you operate — you’d be helping create a safer, cleaner environment for your customers and employees to live and work in.  

5. City building regulations. 

Occasionally, we run into the issue of homeowners associations not allowing residents in their neighborhood to install solar panels on their houses. The same can sometimes happen to commercial solar projects, which is why it’s important to vet the solar companies in your area and find one who fully understands building codes and is able to meet them. At Renu Energy Solutions, we thoroughly analyze a commercial solar project before we begin, allowing us to decide the best route to take to comply with local regulations. 

6. The tax credits in your state. 

The Federal ITC Tax Credit of 26% is a great way to save big on your solar system! Learning about your state’s tax incentives can make all the difference in deciding to go solar or not, as many don’t know about how much they can save by going solar. For example, commercial solar projects in South Carolina can benefit from 25% of a tax credit up to $140,000, meaning you could potentially save $35,000. 

7. The maintenance of a commercial solar system. 

Solar panels are built to last. Most solar panel manufacturers guarantee that your system will last at least 25 years, with the capability of lasting much longer than that if they’re properly cared for. While solar systems are relatively low-maintenance, it’s still important to be on the lookout for any problems that may arise or external factors such as weathering or wildlife that could cause damage to your panels. You can clean and troubleshoot yourself if you’re prepared, but we recommend hiring a professional solar O&M company to effectively service your system. 

Why Renu Energy Solutions Can Help with Solar for Businesses

Since our founding 2010, Renu has installed over 3,300 solar projects for both residential and commercial customers. We have a dedicated team of certified solar installers who are more than capable of tackling commercial solar jobs of all shapes and sizes. But don’t just take our word for it — see the results for yourself! To learn more about what we’ve done as a solar company, take a look at some of our favorite solar success stories.

If you’re considering commercial solar for businesses, school, church, farm, etc., to clean, renewable energy, contact Renu Energy Solutions today for a free consultation. We’d be happy to help you on your solar journey and help you start saving today!

Why Energy Storage is Important in 2022 and Beyond

Energy storage, at its core, is about reliability — you want to be able to rely on your  solar system to keep providing you with energy even when other sources have been disrupted. The electrical grid, which most homes and businesses are connected to, has little storage capacity. Because of this, if the grid is ever down for whatever reason, the homes and businesses it provides energy to will lose power. 

In today’s age, a power outage is a nuisance that no one wants to deal with — your groceries will spoil because the fridge is off, your heating won’t heat in the dead of winter, and sometimes the only form of entertainment is playing board games by candlelight. But more than that, you may not be able to communicate with your friends and family, finish important projects, or stay updated on the latest news if your phones and computers are dead or unable to connect to wifi. We get it, this is how people lived for thousands of years! But in 2022, we’re just not accustomed to it. We like our power! Which is precisely why it’s so important to have a backup energy storage system for when things don’t go as planned. 

How Energy Storage Helps When You Need It Most

2022 has been a year of adjusting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re staying at home way more than usual — and working from there, too. Because of the increased amount of time spent at your house, you need a reliable energy source more than ever. 

To protect employees from potentially contracting or spreading the virus, many companies have opted to move to work from home protocols. Millions of people are now relying on their home offices to get their jobs done, highlighting the importance of having a comfortable environment with a stable power and internet connection. If the grid is down, due to purposeful reasons like rolling blackouts or from accidental reasons like storms, you will want your energy storage system to continue powering your home. 

The whole purpose of having an energy storage system is to have energy security; you want a reliable power source for when all else fails. For example, say you’re working from home and you have an important deadline to meet — your whole team is counting on you to finish this project and boom! The power goes out! You’re sure your coworkers will understand that it wasn’t your fault, but nevertheless, the deadline isn’t met. This is exactly the kind of thing that scares most people about working from home; most people don’t feel as secure about their internet connections, power sources, etc. compared to those of their offices.

Due to an increase in the need for medical care, more and more people are having to get that treatment at home. Powering your home is the key to powering medical equipment that is vital to patients in need, so having energy storage ensures you never have to worry about any of that equipment fails. 

With an energy storage system, you don’t have to worry about outages that can affect your work or your health because you will always have a backup. Even when the grid fails, your home system will continue on powering throughout a blackout and make sure that you have energy security for when you need it most. 

How Does Solar Work with Energy Storage?

At the risk of sounding too technical, we’ll try to explain this as simply as possible. Solar panels absorb the sun’s light through photovoltaic (PV) cells, or the solar panel cells designed to transform sunlight into energy.

At Renu, we provide two types of solar energy systems, the Tesla Powerwall and the Generac PWRcell, which are both excellent options for homeowners looking to store their own energy. 

The Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery able to store energy at a residential level, storing up to 13.5 kW of clean energy with or without a solar system. However, it is most often paired with a solar system to store the extra energy your panels produce throughout the day with the intention of utilizing that excess energy at night time or on rainy days when you aren’t receiving as much sunshine as usual. 

The Generac PWRcell is another intelligent home energy storage system, able to protect from power outages and get you through the night on stored energy from your solar panels. Providing up to 10 kW of energy, it’s a great option for those who don’t need as much energy as the Tesla Powerwall produces. 

It’s important to choose the right storage system based on your needs, which is why Renu is proud to offer both options to accommodate the most homes! 

How Renu Can Help

With the future of our society as it relates to COVID-19 and the adapting world still uncertain, we can be sure of one thing — energy storage isn’t going anywhere. The ability to produce and store your own energy has become increasingly important and popular with no sign of slowing down. 

Renu Energy Solutions is fully equipped to install both solar and storage systems to customers in North and South Carolina. Since 2010, we’ve completed over 4,100 installations to both residential and commercial properties, providing our customers with the clean, renewable energy they need to power their homes and businesses. 

If you’re interested in an energy storage system to claim your energy independence and protect yourself from the uncertainties of the grid, give us a call today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to guide you through this process and help you achieve your energy storage goals.