Dorcas Ministries in Cary, NC  serves those in need of immediate sustenance and then helps provide the tools to build a sustainable life.  While accepting donations of clothing, furniture, household items, toys, books, etc. to provide emergency assistance to families in dire straits, and to sell in their store for a revenue stream, Dorcas also provides programs to put lives back together again.  The Keller Financial Program, Jobs for Life and Joblink, scholarship programs, all work to not  just bail someone out of an emergency, but give them the ability to sustain their own lives and that of their families while contributing to the community.

Dorcas Ministries shares those goals of contributing to the community and creating a sustainable business model.  It is what brought them to the decision to build a solar farm on the roof of their building, which also houses Habitat for Humanity Restore, among other tenants.  The solar array consists of 884 solar photovoltaic panels, or 236.5 kilowatts, enough to power about 30 homes for a year.  Dorcas receives rent for hosting the solar farm, and at the end of seven years has the option to buy the array, increasing the real estate value and benefiting from the energy generated.

The installation was a collaboration of Argand Energy, of Charlotte and Durham, NC and local integrator Yes! Solar Solutions of Cary, NC.  The two solar companies, along with Dorcas Ministries, worked in partnership through the design, contracting, installation and ribbon cutting, which is scheduled for Wednesday June 13 at noon.  Join the celebration of the largest non-profit solar installation in Wake County with the mayor of Cary, Chamber of Commerce… and a free lunch.

We will be hosting a lunch and learn for child care center owners about the benefits of adding solar hot water or solar electric systems to your building.  Child care and preschool businesses who own their building are uniquely positioned to reduce energy costs, create tax credits, and add valuable credibility to their business with the marketing and promotion opportunities of being environmentally responsible.  We will present an overview of how solar works, tax credits and rebates, financing options, and how to incorporate sustainability into curriculum.  Yes! Solar Solutions is owned by Kathy and Stew Miller, founders of Primrose Schools of Cary, who will be sharing their perspective on renewable energy for small businesses.  Please join us for a free lunch!  Space is limited, Register online today, or call Jay Linke at 919-459-4155 to RSVP.

A study in California, where solar photovoltaic systems installations have outpaced installations in NC, looked at thousands of homes sold over the last nine years.  Those with a solar PV system commanded a premium selling price.  The premium was measured by dollar per watt, which ranged from $3.9 per watt to $6.4 per watt.  This represented approximately $17,000 premium on a 3.1 kW PV system.  Given North Carolina’s growing solar market, this premium could play a role in stimulating the real estate market on resale homes, and help homeowners make the decision to invest in solar.

I have the coolest job in our solar company, because I get to do the Customer Care portion of the installation.  After the installation is complete, we assemble all the permits, as built design plans, warranties and operating manuals, and then I meet with the customer.  Besides reviewing all that documentation, I always ask how the customer found us, why they chose us, what we could do differently, etc.  I get to hear great things about our salespeople’s level of knowledge, our project managers’ and solar technicians professionalism and excellence of execution, how often the owner of the company picked up the phone, how we offered the right solution, how we were competitively priced, and sadly, how often other companies they contacted did not respond!

But the best one I heard was this week, when a customer told me he heard voices in his head telling him it was the right decision.  His tongue was firmly in his cheek, but I have my suspicions the voice may have been his wife’s.  Women are often the driving force behind a solar decision, whether outright or whispering while he sleeps.  Either way, a good decision.

Solar Industry magazine picked up the announcement of the Yes! partnership with Argand Energy to build a 236 kilowatt solar system on the roof of non-profit Dorcas Ministries in Cary NC.  The Solar Industry article highlights the opportunity for the non-profit to profit from clean energy.  Great coverage from the Cary News too on the front page February 15.  Watch this space for more announcements from Yes! about solar installations with non-profits.

Yes! Solar Solutions and Argand Energy Solutions Partner to Bring Solar to Local Non-Profit

Largest Non-Profit Solar Energy Installation in Wake County

Howard Manning of Dorcas Ministries Signs Solar Lease

Cary, NC (January 31, 2012) – In partnership with Yes! Solar Solutions and Argand Energy Solutions, Dorcas Ministries, a Cary-based non-profit, will install a 236.5 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop system at their facilities. The 845 panel array will be installed on approximately 50,000 square feet of rooftop space across multiple buildings.

The partnership between Yes! Solar Solutions of Cary and Argand Energy Solutions of Durham will result in the largest non-profit solar energy system in Wake County and one of the largest non-profit installations in the state of North Carolina. The two solar energy companies will work side-by-side on the installation. Once operating, the system will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 28 small homes each year.

Under an innovative solar financing model, Argand Energy will own and operate the system and Dorcas Ministries will be able to utilize solar energy with no out-of-pocket expenses. The non-profit will receive lease payments for the otherwise unusable rooftop space. Energy from the system will be sold to Progress Energy. Construction on the project is slated to begin in February.  

Dorcas Ministries is a non-profit organization focused on serving Wake County residents who find themselves in any kind of temporary financial crisis. Both Yes! Solar Solutions and Argand Energy Solutions are expanding their services into the non-profit sector to help organizations reap the benefits of clean energy.

About Dorcas Ministries

Dorcas Ministries is focused on alleviating financial crisis in Wake County. The donations they receive are resold in the Dorcas Thrift Shop to raise funds for crisis support. That support can be temporary rent assistance, or vouchers to pay for child care so a parent can afford to take a job.  One of the first Dorcas projects was a pre-K program that not only helped parents with child care, but gave children a head start on kindergarten they might not have had otherwise. For more information, visit www.dorcas-cary.org.

About Yes! Solar Solutions

Yes! Solar Solutions designs and installs custom solar systems for residential and commercial clients. We help our clients reduce energy use and save energy costs by identifying the best and most cost-effective energy solutions for their home or office. We are proud to be a Green Plus Certified company and are committed to giving back to the community through volunteer projects, supporting local businesses, and community events.www.yessolarsolutionsnc.com.

About Argand Energy Solutions

Argand Energy Solutions provides comprehensive solar solutions to commercial, government, educational, and residential clients. Our solutions and services are tailored to client needs and include system design, project development, installation, financing, and on-going maintenance and support. Over the past decade, Argand has evolved from a small supplier of solar energy equipment to a leader in the installation, design, and development of solar projects in the Carolinas and southeastern United States. www.argandenergy.com.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kathy Miller, Yes! Solar Solutions

919.459.4155

kmiller@yessolarsolutionsnc.com

Rob Lease, Argand Energy Solutions

919.795.5611

roblease@argandenergy.com

Who says there is no free lunch?  We recently hosted thirteen inspectors from several towns and counties for lunch, and our Project Manager Rob Smith gave a presentation on the basics of solar, electrical code changes, and issues we encounter with permitting and inspections.  The inspectors, who as a group have extensive experience but who are still running into new issues all the time with solar, were enthusiastic, complimentary and said they would come back.

Yes! recently installed a 5.06 kW solar PV system on Effect Energy’s rooftop.  Effect Energy, headquartered in Garner, NC and certified under the Sustainable Sandhills Sustainable Green Business program, is a HERS, Energy Star, and RESNET certified energy professional.  Effect Energy president, Dave Parker, has a flat roof on the company building, which required removing gravel, cement blocks to ballast the system of 22 Yingli 230 watt panels and a Fronius inverter.