co-op brings its members, who
join with no obligation, there is
peace of mind in knowing that
the details will be taken care of
by Solar United Neighbors, which
has years of experience operating
co-ops nationwide. They negotiate
the master agreement with
whatever installer has been chosen
with co-op members’ input;
members then sign individual
contracts with the installer. The
contract includes use of industry
standard materials and a warranty.
The co-op is also available
to small businesses, non-profits,
and churches.
The Future of Sustainable Homes
Adding solar to an existing house can be one of the most impactful ways to contribute to
environmental sustainability as the Kerrs, Crampton-Hayses, and Billingses have done, but what if you
could build a new house? Each year a few new homes are built on private lots throughout the City.
How these houses are designed and built is as important as how they will be heated and cooled.
Today, architects and engineers can design all-electric houses that are so efficient that they can
produce as much electricity through solar as they consume over the course of the year. This “net
zero” concept appealed to residents Robert Brown and Catherine Scallen as they worked with local
architect Christopher Maurer on designing a new home they plan to break ground on later this year.
Combining super insulated walls, solar panels, and other high performance design elements,
the house will be efficient, sustainable, and less costly to operate than the average home.
“Bob and I are old enough to remember the first Earth Day (April 22, 1970), and I think anyone
in our generation has an obligation to try to mitigate what’s happened to our planet in whatever
ways we can,” says Scallen. “This is one way we can help.”
“It just seemed obvious we were going to do it this way,”
says Brown.
Like many other solar homeowners, both Brown and Scallen
drive electric cars and are planning to add a Tesla Powerwall
battery backup system to the house. This will allow them to
produce solar electricity during a power outage, store it in the
battery, and be able to not just keep their refrigerator running
but, as they age, any medical devices that may be necessary.
While some options were passed over to stay within
budget, solar was never one of them. As Brown explains, “It’s
an additional cost, but one reason I’ve never tried to do any
hard numbers analysis is because, as Catherine says, I just feel
like this is something we really ought to do.”
So it’s an unequivocal YES:
You can put solar panels on your home or business
in Shaker, and there are numerous resources
to help you do it. Over time, you will likely save
money, reduce your carbon footprint, and join the
fast-growing sustainability movement in
Shaker Heights. SL
Michael Peters is the
City’s Sustainability Coordinator.
Robert
Brown and
Catherine
Scallen have
planned
their soonto
be-built
Shaker home
to be highly
efficient,
sustainable,
and less
costly to
operate.
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