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

Southern Energy Management worked with Green Builder John Hartley (www.hartleyconstruction.com) 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. (A case study of this project can be viewed online here: http://www.southern-energy.com/files/SEMCaseStudyRingenburg-12.4.07.pdf)

Building Integrated Solar

David Smith Construction - Solar Shingle Roof (Rocky Mount, NC) Our solar team built this 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.

Holzworth Residence

This client wanted to sell power back on the grid and wanted battery back-up power for his new home, which was being 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 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. We like to think that the PV was part of the “Gold”.

Gypsy Divers

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. With 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.

Moncure school

Pippin Home Designs, Green Home/Office Renovation

Jenny Pippin, a residential design specialist and owner of Pippin Home Designs, has always been conscientious of the environment when designing homes – considering factors often overlooked in the building process, such as using or minimizing sun exposure, capturing a beautiful view, and preserving trees on a site. With her latest project, a complete “green renovation” of an existing house into a multi-use facility that will double as her home and part-time office for her staff of 5, Pippin partnered with Southern Energy Management to take her environmental commitment to a new level.

The project, aptly titled Project Live Green, serves as a comprehensive showcase of green building options intended not only to reduce the eco-footprint of Pippin and her company, but also to raise consumer awareness and spark greater demand for sustainable building design in the Charlotte area. As leaders in energy efficiency, green building and renewable energy solutions in the residential and commercial markets across North Carolina, SEM was proud to partner with Pippin Home Designs to help make Project Live Green a complete success. Specific services SEM provided include: Energy Consulting & Mechanical Design, Energy Star & Green Building Verification/Certification, Solar Water Heating & Solar PV System Design and Installation.