Long weekends are great. An extra day off of work, friends, food and generally, lots of fun. What did you do on your last long weekend? Think about it. You probably socialized quite a bit and spent some time outdoors. But could you say that you spent some time outdoors, at the lake, on your very own solar powered picnic table boat that you designed and built yourself? Probably not.
Andrew Hall-Holland, President of The Solar Store, could say that. He could also say that he drives a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle, that he reduces waste and recycles as much as possible, that he aspires to be the next Elon Musk, and that we, as a society, need to transition to a sustainable, resource-based economy that is grounded in renewable energy and decentralized power production.
Sometimes it can seem as though environmental issues get overblown or well-used. It’s trendy and cool to use the 3 R’s in everyday life. But regardless of the environmental It Factor, the fact remains that this floating sphere that we call Earth (and home) has finite resources. As we continue to evolve as a species, the way we live and utilize those resources needs to evolve right along with us. Hall-Holland’s passion in life is to do his part in moving our race toward inhabiting an earth that will sustain us and help us thrive by helping earth itself thrive. And he wants you to be a part of that too, with solar power.
Hall-Holland started The Solar Store in 2009 in response to what he calls one of the most serious risks to our planet; that being the dire need to move towards renewable energy use like solar power. Born and raised in London, Ontario, Andrew is an Environmental Technologist graduate of Fanshawe College, plus a Renewable Energy Technologist, energy consultant/NRCan energy auditor, is LEED, ESTAR and OAHI certified, and has experience in residential and commercial construction. Oh, and he also sits on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau (BBB). So if you’re not sure whether Hall-Holland knows his solar (and business) stuff, you can take heart in knowing that he absolutely does.
For the last 6 years, The Solar Store has catered to those interested in solar photovoltaic (PV) installations as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor and supplier. It was the first solar store in London to be accredited by the Ontario Power Authority and is also accredited by the BBB. As the first certified installers under the microFIT and FIT incentive programs and one of the most experienced solar companies in Canada, The Solar Store can most definitely assist you if you want to become an environmental steward and install solar panels on your home or business.
But why would you want to do that? Why would you install solar panels on the roof of your home or business, or even as a roof over your picnic table boat, for that matter?
As a home owner, you would have the satisfaction in knowing that you’re producing environmentally conscious energy for use on the grid – and the Ontario Power Authority will pay you to do it! With a 20 year contract, you’ll receive approximately $500 per month, the premium price for renewable energy that’s produced in droves, especially when we need it most (during the day in the summertime). The system that’s installed will add value to your home and can even help you with mortgage payments. Hall-Holland says,
“The carbon offset of installing a 10kW solar system on your home is nearly 12 metric tons annually. That’s a significant reduction in carbon dioxide.”
From a business owner’s perspective, it’s simply about how big your roof is: a larger roof space means more panels, which means a higher income from the green energy your business produces and a considerable carbon offset. Businesses can also take advantage of the accelerated write off of the installed system. The Solar Store can offer businesses a return on investment of up to 25% or even lease the roof space for income with zero investment. (Yes, you read that right. Income. With. Zero. Investment.) As well, having solar panels installed to create renewable energy will reinforce your business’s image and reputation as one that cares and is concerned for the environment, setting a great example for other business in your area and industry. And for both homes and businesses, The Solar Store guarantees performance of their systems for 25 years.
It’s been said that the earth receives enough energy from the sun every hour to power our planet for the entire year. The fact that we need to harness and utilize that abundant source of clean power is blatantly obvious. After all, the sun itself produces enough energy to cause an ice bridge to melt in 1 second. But keep in mind that that ice bridge is 2 miles wide, 1 mile thick and extends all the way from our Earth to the Sun, a distance of 149,600,000 kilometers (so, it’s a short ice bridge).
Andrew’s dedication to environmental stewardship is clear as soon as you meet him. “It’s important to become an environmental steward for the survival of our species,” says Hall-Holland. “We are literally poisoning the Earth and everything on it with the way we live and consume. If we continue this way, we are sure to go extinct. That’s a fact. We are wealthy in North America. We can afford to make investments in renewable energy, and the savings are not just monetary.”
Making a move toward using solar power via panels is a smart one; it produces more clean power for the grid, creates an additional income for you and is a renewable energy source with no adverse effects on the environment. Andrew Hall-Holland and his team at The Solar Store will be happy to put you on the path to environmental stewardship, starting with a no-cost quote and a tour of their very own roof top solar power system. And if you’re lucky, Hall-Holland may even share how he built his solar powered picnic table boat so you can really amp up your next long weekend – all while doing your part to save the environment.