Habitat partnership in Va. makes solar part of affordable housing

Winchester Mayor David Smith with Kim Herbstritt, Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity

Winchester, Va. city officials and affordable housing advocates celebrated the start of a project this week to add solar panels to five newly-constructed Habitat for Humanity homes in the downtown area. Winchester Mayor David Smith said the renewable energy addition to the two-story homes is exactly what the city’s planners have in mind for the future. The Winchester Star reported on the gathering on Wednesday.

Kim Herbstritt of Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity welcomed visitors on Tuesday, March 19 to see the homes and watch mtvSolar installation crews work to prepare the solar installations. High winds on Tuesday kept the crews from attaching solar panels to the first of five homes, but the rails to hold the panels are installed and ready. Five panels will go on each home to start.

Homeowners are expected to reduce their energy bills to somewhere around $20 per month once the panels are connected and feeding their electric supply. More Habitat for Humanity homes in the Blue Ridge area will get solar panels in the near future, with mtvSolar as the trusted solar installation partner.

mtvSolar President Mike McKechnie talks as installation crews worked to prepare a roof for solar panels.

mtvSolar Mike McKechnie talked about the importance of making homes affordable for residents over the long term by fixing their energy costs. Installing solar panels essentially locks in electric costs, which normally rise steadily over the life of a home, Mike said. When mtvSolar began as a construction company, his crews donated their labor and time to help build Habitat for Humanity homes in the area. Mike McKechnie said 20 years later, mtvSolar is still an advocate for affordable housing and is excited by the movement toward more energy efficient homes. The company continues to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity through direct donations, community give-back partnerships and reduced-price work. mtvSolar customers can choose to give a panel to community projects like Habitat for Humanity when they purchase their own solar energy system.

Jeff Heie of GiveSolar, headquartered in Harrisonburg, said charitable donors have made it possible to add solar energy systems to Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Virginia, adding another level of sustainability both to affordable housing and the environment. Additional solar energy projects are in the planning stages.

Jeff Heie, GiveSolar

Build the ultimate backup system

Be ready for anything.

The world’s full of uncertainties. From monster storms to surprise grid hacks, you deserve power on demand. Forget scrambling in the dark – mtvSolar builds ultimate backup systems, crafted for your peace of mind.

No outages, no worries:

  • Stay grid-connected: Enjoy solar power with seamless backup during dips and blackouts.
  • Go fully off-grid: Ditch the grid entirely and embrace independent energy freedom.
  • Fuel for all seasons: An auto-start propane generator can kick in when sunlight is limited and the batteries need a boost, only sipping fuel as needed.
  • Control without being online: We design systems that thrive even without internet reliance.
  • Tailored to you: We craft the perfect backup solution for your needs and budget.

Don’t wait for the lights to go out. Embrace your power today.

Get a free consultation and secure your bright future with Mountain View Solar.

What happens if your solar company doesn’t come through?

The rising popularity of renewable energy has attracted new companies to the solar energy industry. Unfortunately, not all of them stick around or have the experience to navigate system malfunctions. We’ve heard from a growing number of people who need help getting their solar components up and running, or back online after a glitch. At mtvSolar, we have the expertise and experience to do just that.

If your solar installer went out of business, abandoned you, or left you with an incomplete or defective system, it can be daunting to know where to turn for help with such a major investment. After all, you chose to go solar to get results — lower electric bills, cleaner energy and power resiliency during unexpected events. You can’t get those if your system is down or unfinished.

We understand that having a solar installation go wrong can be a stressful and frustrating experience. With over 14 years of experience, we’re committed to providing our customers with the best possible solar experience — whether we installed their systems or were called in later.

We’re here for you, even if your installer isn’t.

Call us to assess your system and its performance, and let you know what options you have.

We can help you with the following:

-Completing unfinished installations: We can pick up where your original installer left off and complete the job to the highest standards.

-Repairing defective systems: If your system is not working properly, we can diagnose and repair the problem.

-Providing ongoing maintenance and support: Our team of experts will service your system to keep it running smoothly for years to come.

We know that choosing a solar installer is a big decision, and we want to assure you that we are here for you every step of the way. We’re committed to making sure that you have a positive solar experience!

Call or text us at 304-258-4733, option 1 or email support@mtvsolar.com