Fall in Love With Solar

Something is in the air. It’s crisp mornings and comfortably chilly evenings. It’s the urge to break out your flannel. Fall is slowly emerging here in WNC. While we’ve started to take in and cover our plants, the sharp-eyed may have already spotted some Maples and Tulip Poplars beginning to change their hues. The season of change is upon us, and change comes in many forms.

That’s why at Sugar Hollow Solar we’re incredibly excited to share our Fall in Love With Solar series. The series encompasses multiple events, giveaways, and special promotions that highlight the autumnal season. A key celebration of this series is our community here in WNC. We’re deeply tied to our region and championing the sustainable development of WNC to uplift all of our neighbors in this incredible corner of the world.

Who are we as a community?

Two homes with solar panels installed by Sugar Hollow Soalr in west Asheville NC. — Solar neighbors in a west Asheville neighborhood.

The very foundation of a community is the people. One would be hard-pressed to find a more literal and honest definition. So how do we impact our community through the lens of people? By empowering our neighbors through renewable energy. As demand for energy increases, so too does the cost to the environment and our wallets. Renewable energy makes both a visible and more subtle impact on our neighbors and fellow community members. Reducing a home’s carbon footprint doesn’t just affect one homeowner, it affects the entire neighborhood and the world overall. Fixing a large problem is rarely done by a single person, and when the problem is at a global scale, each action makes a cumulative difference.

Consider This: When a single household switches to solar, they reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their electricity consumption from utility providers. For every 5 kilowatts of solar installed, a household can offset about 7,000 pounds of CO2 annually—equivalent to planting around 120 trees each year. This reduces overall electricity demand, leading to lower carbon emissions, reduced electric bills, and less strain on the local grid, helping create a more resilient energy system for you and your community.

Speaking of community, you might know someone who’s already gone solar—maybe you yourself, a neighbor, or a friend. Ask them about the conversations they've had since making the switch, or whether their choice inspired others in the neighborhood to follow suit. Solar energy not only helps the environment but also brings people together. That’s the essence of our 'Fall in Love With Solar' campaign: strengthening our community while making a positive impact on the world around us.

Expanding the Impact: Small Businesses and Nonprofits

Let’s widen our view of the community now. We’ve thus far discussed individuals, but not the small businesses and nonprofits that are often cornerstones of communities. From local coffee houses to community centers and religious houses of worship, these businesses and nonprofits help us connect with more than just our immediate neighbors. They bring us together with the wider network, fostering new friendships and forming lasting bonds. All of this is centered around a shared commitment to where we live and those who call it home.

Left, Bob Wagner Executive Director of Mountain True and Right, Doug Ager, CEO of Sugar Hollow Solar

Over the past two decades, especially from what we have seen at Sugar Hollow Solar, small businesses and nonprofits have become increasingly dedicated to sustainability as renewable energy has become more accessible. For many businesses, going solar makes economic sense—they reduce operating costs and become more self-sufficient. But there’s more to it. By lowering their energy needs, they’re also giving back to the community. Some businesses have used their savings from solar to keep their expenses steady while those without see energy costs continually rise. Others have taken advantage of government grants and tax incentives that allow them to thrive, creating local jobs and keeping money within the community, right where we think it should be! Furthermore, certain businesses, religious institutions, and other nonprofits have approached solar from both the financial and environmental responsibility perspectives. For some, going solar is a membership-driven initiative that reflects their community’s shared values. We’ve heard from several clients that making the switch has fostered a deeper sense of excitement, bringing members together to volunteer, learn, and contribute more actively to their community.

Sugar Hollow Solar’s Fall in Love with Solar 2024 Series Highlights:

In efforts to continue sharing the sense of excitement with our community, we are thrilled to launch our 2024 Fall in Love With Solar Series with over 20 events, raffles, and an awesome electric lawn care giveaway happening from September 29 - November 11th, and our exciting Small Biz Spotlight campaign starting November 12th where we will be giving out $800 in gift cards to your favorite local small business and sharing them in our holiday gift guide coming our early December to ensure you can focus on the best local shopping there is!

Other Renewable Energy Initiatives and Efforts

If you're familiar with Sugar Hollow Solar, you probably know about our various community efforts beyond solar installations, and battery backups, including seasonal events, sponsorships, fundraisers, raffles, and giveaway. For those interested in learning more about our specific renewable energy initiatives, here are a few we’re excited to share.

One of our Neighbor to Neighbor families during their install.

The first and perhaps most direct renewable energy initiative is our participation in the Neighbor to Neighbor program. Neighbor to Neighbor is a collaboration with the nonprofit Green Built Alliance and their Blue Horizon Project. This program directly targets the high energy costs disproportionately burdening low-income families. The program not only reduces energy expenses but also promotes environmental sustainability and advances the region's energy goals. We are proud to be the current installation partner for this program over the last year+.

We also more recently partnered with the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund (NCCEF) to launch a groundbreaking solar lending program. This partnership also aims to make solar energy accessible and affordable for more North Carolinians by offering financing solutions with below-market rates and no dealer fees.

Beyond these two initiatives, we also have our referral program that pays you $250 and donates $50 to our nonprofit of the year if you refer a client to us that ends up going solar. You can learn more about our referral program here, or sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on one-off and ongoing community initiatives. We believe that by giving back as part of everything we do, we’re helping our community and making a difference. We have donated thousands of dollars to our nonprofit partners and community events each year and love building long-term relationships that carry on for years to come.

Change Our Community

As the fall leaves begin to cover the landscape in vibrant shades of orange and gold, we’re reminded of a heartwarming story that perfectly captures the essence of our Fall in Love With Solar campaign. Recently, in August, we celebrated our business accomplishment alongside a wonderful crowd including Mary Love, one of our our preferred partners and Founder of Love the Green, which is a dynamic woman-owned and veteran-owned company that’s making waves in Western North Carolina. Mary is dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices and innovative community models

At our 14th-anniversary party and fundraiser for MountainTrue, Mary brought us delicious muscadine grapes from her garden and shared her inspiring journey with solar energy. Her decision to support solar has not only cut her own energy costs but also ignited a spark in her own networks and communities. Her enthusiasm has led to a broader conversation about sustainability and solar adoption among her neighbors, fostering a collective move towards greener practices.

One notable example of this is the Olivette community—a vibrant, 411-acre development that blends modern living with sustainable practices. Olivette, with its emphasis on community and environmental responsibility, has seen several of its residents also embrace solar energy, reflecting the kind of ripple effect Mary’s story represents.

This story is a beautiful example of the kind of community impact we aim to achieve through our ongoing and temporary efforts, like our Fall in Love With Solar series, which includes over 20 events and exciting giveaways. It is designed to celebrate and strengthen our community ties while promoting the benefits of renewable energy.

As you enjoy the crisp autumn air and the beautiful fall colors, we invite you to be part of this wave of positive change. Whether you join us at our events, explore solar for your home or business, or connect with your community, every action contributes to a brighter, more connected future for WNC. Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to seeing the positive changes we can achieve together this season.