Powering Up with Practical Solar Energy in Savannah
In the charming city of Savannah, just days after Hurricane Helene passed through, a happy elderly couple is basking in the glow of their solar energy investment. As butterflies flit between flowers in their pollinator-friendly backyard, Marc Thomas, 77, highlights a vital point before diving into the details of their solar panels. “This is not luxury solar power,” he insists, sitting comfortably on his porch. “This is basic solar power, right?”
While the generator next door drones on due to a power outage affecting the neighborhood, the Thomas household is blissfully unaffected. Their solar panels and battery storage system have ensured they never lost power, even during the five outages since their system was installed in mid-April. “A couple of them we didn’t even know about until neighbors told us that the power was out the next day,” Thomas chuckles. Talk about staying in the loop!
A Long Road to Going Solar
The Thomases made their way to Savannah from Baltimore in 2011 after Marc retired from a lengthy career in operations management with Medicare and Medicaid Services. “We had been interested in going solar for years,” he shares, “but we found the prices were outlandish, and the salesmen were frightening.” With the break-even rates appearing stuck around 10 to 15 years, investing in solar during retirement didn’t seem too practical for the couple.
The game changed, however, when Marc stumbled upon a news article about Georgia BRIGHT, a non-profit organization striving to make solar more accessible to low and moderate-income homeowners by eliminating up-front costs. Reserved for households earning $150,000 or less, the program bought and installed the system, leasing it back to the homeowners. The Thomases were the first in Savannah to benefit from this initiative.
Shocking Savings and Sustainable Living
Since switching to solar, their typical monthly power bill has dropped dramatically from $180 to just $30. “What we don’t use goes back to Georgia Power, and we get credit for it,” Marc explains. However, the advantages of going solar extend beyond just saving money. Marc himself suffers from sleep apnea and relies on a breathing machine at night. “Power continuity in my sleep is really important to me,” he states earnestly. Thanks to the battery storage, his machine remains functional even when the sun isn’t shining.
Although their home is still connected to the traditional energy grid, the Thomases actively try to minimize their reliance on it. “Our system is not designed for maximum load,” says Marc. They make straightforward lifestyle changes such as avoiding using the oven when fully on solar and refraining from cranking up the AC more than necessary. Laundry? They line dry it—an old-fashioned yet eco-friendly choice that resonates with their solar journey.
They’re cautious about their electricity usage, too. “If we’re not careful, we can use enough power so that the batteries reach a minimal state and shut off,” explains Marc. But with their careful planning, they’ve been able to navigate the days and nights with ease.
Trailblazers in the Neighborhood
Marc and Margo don’t mind being trendsetters in their community. Their home features a whimsical mural by local artist Jose Ray, which brightens the front of their house with multicolored flowers, birds, and butterflies. The vibrant artwork drew initial skepticism from neighbors, but soon enough, they were gathered outside to watch the artist at work. “When he was just starting out, some of the neighbors were a little doubtful, like, ‘Isn’t that a little strange?’” Marc recalls with a smile.
The solar panels have also turned heads, but Marc is quick to point out that their motivation is very much grounded in practicality, not luxury. “This is not luxury solar,” he reiterates. “But it does exactly what we want.”
With a commitment to sustainable living, the Thomases show how ordinary people can embrace solar energy without breaking the bank or sacrificing comfort. Their story is a testament to how there’s a remarkable future waiting on the horizon for solar power—one where economic and environmental concerns can, together, bring light to our homes!
