One Million Lights: Brightening Futures all Over the World

Did you know that 1.3 million people depend on kerosene for their source of lighting? Or that kerosene causes 1.5 million deaths annually? Kerosene is a major cause of respiratory illnesses and burns, but those illnesses and injuries cannot be treated without having lighted clinics. Kerosene is also a great expense due to the transportation costs, and it emits a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide; about 100kg per year. Kerosone clearly isn't the answer, but what other choice do those 1.3 million people around the world have?

One Million Lights is a nonprofit devoted to brightening futures all over the world. Their goal is to improve the lives of children and adults by providing and distributing one million clean and efficient solar lights to replace harmful kerosene lamps. Lighting can improve the quality of life for everyone. Children can study and read during the dark hours of the night, and parents can cook and clean their home. Not to mention solar lights have zero emissions, and do not result in injury. 

Throughout the month of September, NC Solar Now will be donating one solar light for every solar installation we do. Additionally, if we reach our goal of getting 500 likes on our facebook page, we will donate $500 to the nonprofit. We respect the work that One Million Lights does and are excited to be able to support and prolong it! 

If you would like to support One Million Lights, click here to make a donation. For just $15 you can donate a light to a child or adult in need. There are many other ways to help as well, including becoming an ambassador, sponsor, partner, volunteer, or even just sharing what they do with others. You can also help by simply liking our Facebook page! Help us help One Million Lights solarize the world and give everyone the chance for a brighter future.

Check out this inspiring video by One Million Lights!

Heliocol Solar Pool Heating Systems

What if you didn't have to wait for summer to use your pool? With Heliocol solar pool heating systems, you can lengthen your summer pool time. As Heliocol says, just because the summer ends doesn't mean your pool time has to!

Since 1977, Heliocol has been manufacturing solar pool panels, leading them to become the top selling manufacturer in the world. Their panels are hurricane and freeze resistant, long lasting, and of the highest quality guaranteed. Their panels consist of a "one piece" design, and they act as protection for your roof by simply "floating" above it, keeping it dry and clean. Not only are they maintenance free due to their incredible strength and smart design, but also they are aesthetically pleasing and green! Heliocol's panels can help you reduce your energy consumption and emissions, as well as help you save on your electric bill. 

Click here for more information about Heliocol, and look below for our most recent installation of Heliocol solar pool heating panels in Chapel Hill!

How Heliocol Solar Pool Heating Works

             NC Solar Now's most recent Heliocol installation in Chapel Hill

Massachusetts's Solar Owners Positive About Solar

A recent survey by New England Clean Energy asked Massachusetts solar owners which of the three was a better investment: a solar installation, a property renovation, or a car. Results showed that 70% of Massachusetts's solar owners believe solar energy is the best investment a homeowner could make. Only 29% said a property renovation, and 1% said buying a car.

Massachusetts's solar owners gave solar systems a 95% approval rate, a very high percentage to compete with. Additionally, 96% of respondents said the government should subsidize the solar market, showing the support the public has for the growth of solar.

There are ways around the expensive up-front cost of solar, as customers have shown to successfully use. 63% of solar owners used their savings or money from a separate bank account to make their investment, while 28% used a loan or mortgage refinancing. Loan programs and tax credits have allowed for tons of customers to afford their installation without any financial issues. The survey revealed that the main reason for the increase in solar installations has been the 30% federal tax credit for since it was introduced 7 years ago. The long-term savings of solar allow customers to pay off their loan in a timely manner. As customers have shown to agree, the long-term investment of solar has been well worth it!

To read the original article, click here!

PanelClaw

PanelClaw is an environmentally responsible mounting company that delivers balance-of-system solutions to accelerate the use of solar photovoltaics worldwide. Not only is the company working in the industry of clean energy, but they also make packaging and vendor decisions for the development of their products and practices with their carbon footprint in mind and environmental impact at heart. 

PanelClaw's design philosophy yields a long life-cycle for their products with as few installations as possible, continuing to save you money after the already low up-front cost of installation. Their items are pre-assembled in the factory to reduce the time and cost of array construction and decommissioning process, as well as the low part count of their systems. They also extend resources' life cycles by incorporating recycled materials into their own, including automobile tires, slag, and cardboard in the fabrication and packaging of our products wherever possible. Their offices, warehouse and distribution center are even green, being powered by a 175 kW solar array.

The PanelClaw mounting design is lightweight to reduce material content, transportation weight, and construction impact during the installation and end-of-life decommissioning process. Their ground mount system, Panda Bear, avoids or greatly reduces the use of heavy equipment and, therefore, roof damage. It is the first solar racking system with only three parts, including factory-installed and integrated benefits. The design allows panels to sit on a rooftop instead of intruding into the roof resulting in permanent damage. This makes for an easy and clean installation and decommissioning process. Keeping true to their system's name and contributing to their environmental responsibility, PanelClaw makes annual donations to bear conservation programs, including World Wildlife Fund and the National Zoo.

NC Solar partnered with PanelClaw to install the 12 kW system on Sovereign Guns' new retail store in Fuquay-Varina. Sovereign Guns' started in 2004 as a small Internet-based wholesale company. Due to their great success in online sales, they opened up a retail store and invested in a solar photovoltaic system to help with their electricity bill. Check out the installation for yourself by clicking here. We hope to have the chance to work with PanelClaw for our future installations!