Habitat homes add solar panels

STAFF REPORT~ 12/7/2011

More than 20 volunteers turned out Saturday to begin installation of donated solar systems on two neighboring Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills homes. The first system will be installed on HFHDF’s 25th home, which will be the organization’s first house ever to receive solar and the first home to receive an Energy Star rating.
Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills owns a plot of land on12th St. north of Carefree Highway, which will ultimately be the site of four homes. The first of the four is completed and was recently dedicated to Jessica Steier, who is a single mother. A milestone for HFHDF, the 25th home is currently under construction, and it will be dedicated on Saturday to another single mother, Fatima Martinez.
Harmon Solar rallied the support of vendors to donate a portion of the equipment for the two photovoltaic systems, and the company is covering the remainder of the parts, plus labor for the installation. In addition to these current projects, Harmon Solar has committed to becoming HFHDF’s solar partner for future home builds.
Aside from Harmon Solar, supplies for the solar arrays have been donated by AEE Solar, CED GreenTech, ProSolar, Renusol America, Saint-Gobain Solar, and Specialty Roofing. Both photovoltaic systems combined are valued at approximately $31,000.
Steier’s house will receive a 3.08 kW solar array, containing 32 panels, and Martinez’s home will be a 3.52 kW system, comprised of 14 panels. The solar systems could initially save the new homeowners up to $750 per year on energy costs. However, the savings are anticipated to increase as energy costs are expected to rise annually.
Construction of the single-story, 1,200-square-foot, three bedroom, and one-and-half bathroom homes was made possible by generous contributions from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and HelmsBriscoe. The homes were built primarily by volunteers and supervised by HFHDF’s construction manager. The 25th home is the organization’s first to receive solar and the first home to be certified for an Energy Star rating.
HFHDF has a rigorous selection process for identifying recipients of Habitat homes. The selected applicant works in partnership with HFHDF to build and buy their own home, and they need to meet several criteria. Each family has to contribute to the construction of their home by providing sweat equity hours - 400 hours for a dual parent household or 200 hours for single parent families. Interested homeowners must attend an orientation session to receive an application, and they need to also be a legal resident of the United States.
For information contact Harmon Solar at 623-879-0010 or visit www.harmonsolar.com. For more information about HFHDF or to volunteer, visit www.habitatdf.org or call 623-551-6000.