Macon Area Habitat for Humanity and Mercer University has received a $60,000 grant from All Points North Foundation to fund the installation of low-cost solar panel systems on Habitat homes. A decades-long partnership between Macon Area Habitat for Humanity and Mercer University now aims to increase homeownership affordability through low-cost solar deployment in an area where such deployment is historically low. A team of talented Mercer University engineering students with a passion to make change in the world are working to optimize Habitat’s highly efficient homes and design solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in a way that they can be installed by local trained technicians – drastically reducing the cost of the overall PV system while lowering each homeowner’s electricity bill.

“All Points North Foundation continues to explore opportunities to support nonprofits to significantly advance the penetration of PV solar through education, job training, and deployment of solar PV technologies,” said All Points North Foundation Executive Director Laura Staich. “Although the cost of solar has dropped dramatically over the last decade, the upfront cost of going solar still remains a hurdle for most families. We are delighted to support the Habitat – Mercer University partnership in bringing household PV systems to the community.”

Through All Points North Foundation support, the Habitat - Mercer University partnership will provide five highly energy-efficient Habitat homes with grid-tied rooftop solar PV systems at no cost. The individual systems will offset approximately 80-100% of each home’s annual energy needs, saving an estimated 6,400 kilowatt hours of fossil fuel-sourced electricity, resulting in nearly $1,000 in savings per year for each homeowner. Even more unique is that the partnership will be led by Mercer University students with support from faculty, and a consultant accredited by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, to assist in the PV system’s design and installation, and in training of both local technicians and Habitat construction staff.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with Mercer University and offer the option of solar power to our Habitat homeowners,” said Ivey Hall, Executive Director of Macon Area Habitat for Humanity. “This would not be possible without the generosity of All Points North Foundation and its determination to see access to affordable solar power offered to all households.”

“Mercer’s work with low-cost household solar PV systems has developed at the pilot stage through student-led activities over the past several years, with support from the University’s Research That Reaches Out program,” said Dr. Michael MacCarthy, Assistant Professor of Environmental & Civil Engineering and Director of Mercer’s Engineering for Development Program. “We are excited to grow our service and research work with Habitat for Humanity through All Points North Foundation funding. We believe that in addition to providing clean-energy systems for Habitat homeowners, this project will expose numerous students to Habitat construction and solar PV design and installation, help promote solar PV options to the wider Macon community, and play a significant role in developing a local ‘Macon Made’ market for cost-effective residential solar PV system installations.”   

Construction will begin this summer and continue over the next year. For more information about this project please contact Ivey Hall, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, at 478-745-0630 or [email protected] or Dr. Michael MacCarthy, Mercer University Director of Engineering for Development Program, at 478-301-5480 or [email protected].