The Partner

The Charlotte-area preschool LeafSpring School, formerly known as Rainbow Station, has made the decision to go solar at both of their facilities! The local preschools are known for, and pride themselves on their innovative learning environment. As school owner, Parks Hunter, puts it, they are constantly looking to “raise the bar and be the leader in early childhood education.”

The Challenge

In 2017,  the LeafSpring Schools decided that they wanted to begin searching for ways to improve their facilities. There are many different avenues one could take when considering updates, but after some deliberation they decided to look more closely into a solar option. They reached out to Renu energy solutions to learn more.

The RENU Solution

 After discussing with representatives from Renu, they learned that they could develop a 40-kiloWatt photovoltaic solar system for the Charlotte location and a 40.26-kiloWatt photovoltaic solar system for the Stallings location. An added bonus of this commitment is that solar could also deeply reduce the energy from the grid that the schools use to power the buildings daily. Because of this, the schools made the decision to move forward with the projects in hopes that it could be used as an extension of their core values for their students. 

Both systems will each produce around 55,000 kiloWatt-hours of clean power annually and each save 85,732 pounds of carbon dioxide every year.

The Partner

Good Karma Ranch is a small, family owned farm located in North Carolina. They are dedicated to raising alpacas responsibly while also creating high-quality renewable and affordable products. The owners are very environmentally conscious and have made many efforts centered around being as sustainable as possible.

The Challenge

In 2012, the folks at Good Karma Ranch were ready to make an investment in reducing their future energy costs. At the same time, because of their dedication to raising alpaca and operating a farm, they recognized the importance of protecting the environment. They had previously been subscribing to a renewable energy program through their electric company, but wanted to make a more direct impact by building and owning clean energy on their property.

The RENU Solution

In consultation with their solar installer, Renu Energy Solutions, the farm’s owners, the Walshes, decided that a solar energy system should be mounted on the ground in order to best meet their needs. The 5-kiloWatt solar system would still be located close to the large barn which would use the power produced to offset its energy, over time letting the solar pay for itself as electricity rates fluctuate and rise.

With ample space and alpaca willing to “mow” the grass around the panels, a ground-mount system would have the benefit of never having to be removed from a building for roof repair or other reason.

Beyond saving on energy costs, Good Karma Ranch frequently finds that visitors, community members, and business contacts support their solar choice and appreciate the farm’s strides in sustainability. Some farms can even apply for and obtain federal government grants as an added incentive for going solar.

The Partner

Charlotte Motor Speedway is an entertainment staple, not only in its community but to all NASCAR and racing fans across the country; and they have gone solar! CMS has been putting on family-friendly events since it was first built in 1959, and has spared no expense when it comes to providing people with the best experience possible. Their new solar endeavour is a clear reflection of their commitment to their fans and the natural environment.

The Challenge

The speedway holds numerous racing and community events throughout the year. The track is also home to many amenities and services that are available to fans during events. Because of the heavy volume of activity constantly at the track, they have always racked up hefty energy costs while unintentionally impacting the environment. Aware of these issues, Charlotte Motor Speedway sought out opportunities that would help them make the necessary changes to hopefully become more sustainable and cost efficient in any way that they could. This search led them in the direction of solar energy, as they investigated it further. 

The RENU Solution

 Impressed by local solar energy company, Renu Energy Solutions, the speedway became more and more interested in the possibility. Representatives from Renu’s experienced team were able to develop a design for a 247 kilowatt array on the 42,000-square-foot Turn 4 Sun Deck for the track. In collaboration with CMS, it was decided that this would be the ideal size installation to meet their environmental and financial goals. 

 CMS was also able to move forward with the project in light of 2 public programs that helped save them money. They were able to secure a 30% federal tax credit and received $100,000 through Duke Energy’s solar rebate program. Both of these efforts helped make the speedways decision to officially commit much easier. 

 CMS will offset 491,125 pounds of carbon dioxide in just one year. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 291 acres of U.S. forests or 245,463 pounds of coal burned.

The Partner

Dr. Peter Capizzi, who is widely regarded as Charlotte’s top provider of plastic surgery, has made the decision to bring solar to his practice! Capizzi, M.D. is renowned for their unmatched standards of success and service among their patients. The true mission of Dr. Capizzi and his practice also shines through the Capizzi Foundation, which supports numerous local and national charities. 

The Challenge

Future increases in utility costs had been a concern for the practice, but what could lock in affordable energy? In 2017, Dr. Peter Capizzi began to take a closer look into incorporating renewable energy, specifically solar, at his cosmetic surgery practice. After noting that the cost of solar had come down in recent years, he decided to move ahead with a solar energy consultation to find out if it could be a good fit.

The RENU Solution

The practice soon learned that their building had a suitable roof for a 30 kW solar system and that it could provide financial and environmental returns.

Not only would the practice become more competitive by saving on monthly fixed costs without sacrificing quality care for their clients, but going solar also enabled the practice to use tax credits and other business tax strategies to accelerate the financial benefit of going solar – a federal tax credit would essentially pay for 30% of the project cost to the customer.

Dr. Capizzi is demonstrating environmental consciousness through solar. Within the first year using solar power, the practice will avoid over 65,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.