Renewable Energy Commitment for Savings

There’re days when I’m looking on my personal power grid for any renewing energy I can find; eating a Clif Bar, taking a power nap, etc. For your proposed green building, you can look behind the sofa or under the mattress for enough additional $$, and, yes, maybe from grants too, to afford additional power–solar–for the project. That would offer significant energy savings from the minute the on-site renewable energy system is turned on. But, given a tax-driven investment that non-profits can’t take advantage of, it may be more feasible to look at financing plans that would entail “leasing” some roof or ground-level square footage for the medium term with investment recapture at the end of the term. (Costs less if installing panels on a structure at grade along some perimeter of the church property.) At investment recapture–say, 7-8 years–your energy costs would lower dramatically. And, points can be earned under the LEED rating system credit On-Site Renewable Energy.

At an individual level, any of us could go to The Home Depot, for example, making arrangements there with vendor Solar City to lease our rooftops at no out-of-pocket cost in exchange for reduced energy cost through the lease term. (Why our area Home Depots don’t have solar systems on their own rooftops is a question.)

Environmental stewardship through the installation of renewable energy systems is possible for the proposed project, and for your homes. Major savings in energy costs can be generated over the long term, as well as lessening demand on the grid.

In an upcoming post, I’ll mention a nearby homeowner who likes watching the electric meter go backwards at the only Anne Arundel County LEED for Homes Platinum certified single-family residence. This is among the many satisfactions family members enjoy as a result of a lifestyle transformation started at a rented home in the suburbs of London. “Where’s the garbage disposer?”