Ringenburg Residence, Chapel Hill, NC
Energy Star Verification, Solar Thermal & Solar PV

Southern Energy Management worked with Green Builder John Hartley, of Hartley Construction, Inc., and the Ringenburgs to design and build the Ringenburg family’s dream high-performance home. SEM provided energy consulting and installed a 7.2 kW solar PV system as well as a solar hot water system. SEM’s consulting and renewable energy solutions earned the Ringenburg home a HERS rating of 8 – the lowest home energy rating we’ve seen to-date. The home will eliminate over 27,000 lbs/year of air pollutants (CO2, SO2, NOx) from being emitted into the environment by conventional power plants. Click here to read a full case study about this project.

Cherokee Partners Mainstream Green Home (Raleigh, NC)

SEM partnered with Cherokee Investment Partners on their Mainstream Green Home demonstration project. We installed this cutting edge integrated Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Thermal system, using the new Atlantis PV Solar Shingles and Dawn Solar Thermal technologies, to provide both electricity, hot water and HVAC to the house. The Solar Thermal component of the project (Dawn Solar) heats a 328 gallon hot water storage tank for domestic hot water and radiant floor heating. 

Gypsy Divers  (Raleigh, NC)

Gypsy Divers Aquatic and Scuba Center saw their hot water heating energy costs spin out of control, paying almost $1,000/month to heat their indoor pool. SEM worked to install a 40 collector solar thermal pool system for the Center which provides almost all of their pool's hot water needs. By taking advantage of available tax credits, they were able to reduce the cost of their system by approximately 30% and they will recoup their investment in 2-3 years.

Holzworth Residence  (Durham, NC)

Don Holzworth wanted to sell power back on the grid and wanted a battery back-up on his new home built by Bost Custom Homes. SEM installed a 3 kW system on his new dream home. We also set him up as a commercial power generator with the NC Utilities Commission so that he could sell power to the grid and receive the NC GreenPower Subsidy of $0.18/kW.  This home won the “Gold” of all homes on the 2006 Parade of Homes.

Moncure School  (Moncure, NC)

The Moncure School decided that they wanted to do something about Global Warming and to lower their water heating energy costs. SEM provided an affordable solar thermal system to address these needs and to act as a learning aid to teach the students about renewable energy. The students and teachers alike were excited about their new solar system and a few of the kids now want to be solar installers “when they grow up."

Bennek Energy Star Cabin  (Clayton, NC)

SEM installed an 8 collector solar thermal system for the Bennek Cabin. This system heats the water for a 328 gallon storage tank. It has 2 heat exchanger coils: one for the domestic hot water and a second for a uni-chiller tie-in for the solar space heating system. SEM also did the duct design, consulting and rating for the building’s Energy Star certification.

Piedmont Biofuels  (Pittsboro, NC)

SEM installed a 12 collector solar thermal system for Piedmont Biofuels’ new one million gallon per year production facility. This system was designed and built to expand to a 36 collector system in the second year of operations. The solar thermal (hot water) system has the capability to pre-heat for an industrial water tank or the biodiesel reaction tank, and to heat a 12,000 gallon biodiesel storage tank in the winter. Piedmont Biofuels estimates its payback will be less than 4 years.

Glenaire Retirement Community  (Cary, NC)

The Glenaire Retirement Community, with over 400 residents, decided that they wanted to reduce their energy usage and address Global Warming. SEM installed a 6 collector pre-heating solar hot water system for their cafeteria which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to the residents. This new solar thermal system provides 25% of the cafeteria’s hot water needs, protects Glenaire from rising natural gas fuel costs, and takes an important first step to reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

David Smith Construction - Solar Shingle Roof  (Rocky Mount, NC)

Our solar team built a 7.2 kW solar PV system covering 3 roofs using Unisolar building integrated shingles and two Gridpoint battery backup units. We connected the system to the grid for a net metering application, but the primary objective of the customer was to have a reliable power backup system for his home internet business. This was the largest job of its type in North Carolina.