Solar water heater and energy efficiency services donated to the Charlotte home
CHARLOTTE – Southern Energy Management (SEM), a leading provider of solar power and energy efficiency services in the Carolinas, will donate a solar water heater and Energy Star verification to a Charlotte family selected as the recipient of ABC’s popular home makeover show – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Ty Pennington, host of the hit show, will surprise the chosen Charlotte family at their home today [July 28], kicking off a whirlwind 5-day effort to construct the family’s new home, which will incorporate energy efficiency as a core feature.
We are beyond thrilled to be able to provide this family with the benefits of energy efficiency and solar energy in their new home,” said Jon Goode, SEM’s Charlotte director of operations. “We’re also excited to share this story with other residents in Charlotte, as well as builders and homeowners across the country, who may not realize how easy it can be to incorporate energy efficiency and solar water heating in new homes.”
SEM’s team of solar installers and building science technicians will be on site throughout the week conducting energy inspections and installing the family’s new solar water heating system. Their team will also be on-hand to talk with media and educate the public at ABC’s media tent.
The solar system donated by SEM and one of its partners, VELUX America, offers the latest in residential solar water heating technology. Introduced in the U.S. earlier this year by VELUX, a global leader in skylights, the system features seamless integration and aesthetics, and will provide 50 to 80 percent of the family’s daily hot water needs. As water heating typically accounts for 20 percent of a home’s energy usage, the system will result in significant savings in their utility bills.
SEM’s team will also oversee the inspection and verification process to qualify the home under the national EPA’s Energy Star program. They will conduct performance testing on the home during various stages of construction, including duct leakage tests, a blower door test and framing and insulation inspections.
As a result of the home’s Energy Star features, the family will benefit from lower energy bills, better overall comfort and durability, and lower maintenance costs over the life of the home. In addition to the benefits the home will provide for its new owners, the home’s features also will serve as a guiding example to homeowners and builders in Charlotte and nationwide.
