Even on a cloudy day, a solar panel produces electricity. The rain parted long enough on May 12th in Alexandria, Virginia, for the installation of solar panels on two new side-by-side Habitat for Humanity homes. This installation marked the beginning of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic. To start things off, Serena Bruce, a Solar Installation Supervisor with GRID Alternatives, tested the first solar panel, which received 34 volts of electricity. “On a sunny day, this panel will receive about 36 volts, explained Serena, “so we can see the panel still works even when it’s cloudy.”
Nicole Steele, Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic and Jon Smoot, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia gathered alongside representatives of Congressman Beyer’s office, Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay’s office, and Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation to celebrate the beginning of this partnership and to learn about the Habitat for Humanity homes and the solar panels on the roof.
The homes will be EarthCraft Gold Standard, meaning they are built with no leakage; all air in the houses is regenerated, recycled, and refreshed, while the solar panels on the roof reduce the families’ need to buy electricity from the grid. The estimated annual savings per house on utility bills is $450, which is a significant amount of money for these future homeowners.
After paying an adjusted mortgage over the course of 30 years, the families will own the home themselves. “This helps to build equity and generational wealth,” explains Jon Smoot of Habitat for Humanity NOVA. In addition, these future homeowners have to put a certain amount of “sweat equity” into the home, helping with the construction and completing financial classes. One applicant, Amna, who at age 26 is financially responsible for her family, has already put in all the time required. She will benefit greatly from the savings the house will provide; she currently takes care of her disabled sister, her mother, and her two brothers, one a full time-student, and the other in high-school. Their soon-to-be neighbors are a couple taking care of their three young children and the wife’s mother.
GRID Alternatives is thrilled to contribute to the houses and provide continued savings for the families over the years with solar energy. “We are excited to do our first partnership with Habitat for Humanity in the state of Virginia,” says Nicole Steele of GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic, “The first of many!”