Spotlight: Christina McClain

Meet Christina McClain, Junior Project Coordinator!

Christina McClain is a native Charlottean and stuck around to study Earth and Environmental Science at UNC Charlotte. She started with Renu Energy Solutions as a marketing intern in the summer of 2017. After graduating in December of 2017, she decided to stay with the company and become a full time member on the operations team. She loves that Renu recognizes solar is a choice and nobody is forced into something that does not make sense for them and she loves the office culture, two of the many reasons she chose work with us.

A normal day for Christina consists of maintaining the small parts to every project so each can be completed on time. She makes sure permits are in place, homeowners associations have approved projects, and utilities have the proper connections. All of these pieces may seem small but Christina highlights, “Our homeowners would not be able to get to installation if we didn’t make sure we had all the appropriate approvals first.Christina finds motivation at work by enjoying when a homeowner is able to see their project to completion and reap the benefits of going solar. She does her best every day to keep each project on track and ensure every homeowner’s happiness.

Christina also highlights how important it is to vote! She recognizes that solar is a great investment but local and state legislation dictate the future success of solar in the Carolinas. Making solar more obtainable depends on what voters want, so expressing your opinion at the polls can make a huge difference in the sustainable energy field. Thinking about industry advancements, Christina says, Honestly, the strides in technology for the physical way that solar presents itself is so cool. As technology increases we are going to see lighter and more efficient panels, maybe even smaller and more efficient panels that will allow people to need less to achieve further energy independence.” 

When she’s not keeping projects on track, she enjoys biking, costuming, and playing with her dog, Mordecai. Both her and her husband attend comic conventions together dressed up in cosplay. She says, Seeing small children whose eyes light up to see their favorite superhero or cartoon character in real life warms my heart and is my favorite reason for going to conventions.

And as a treat to us all, every once in a while she brings in her dog to hangout in the office! He is just as loyal to Renu as Christina is and we wouldn’t know what to do without them! 

Read about another solar professional: Jeff Stewart, Director of Alternative Finance

Read our feature on another solar professional: Frazier Spann, Solar Team Lead

Read another feature on a solar professional: Hannah Elliott, Operations Supervisor

Read about the experience of Austin Winecoff, Summer 2018 Solar Installation Intern

Read about our two summer 2018 operations interns, Jenny Nguyen and Sam Robbins

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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