FAQ
FAQ
Million Solar Roofs
Does the NC MSR Partnership work with other MSR Partnerships? It seems more could be accomplished if MSR Partnerships are coordinating their activities.
The NC MSR Partnership is an active participant in the Southeast Regional MSR Working Group, a group of MSR partnerships in the Southeast that have been working collaboratively the past few years to overcome barriers and promote similar solar message in over 9 states and two territories (FL, GA, SC, NC, AL, MS, KY, TN, AR, USVI, and PR).
The Southeast Regional MSR Working Group is developing a plan to promote solar hot water in the southeast to three sectors: new home builders; affordable housing, and utilities. The group has other ongoing projects, including a campaign to market and educate the public about solar through the highly visible photovoltaic road signs, emergency phones, and other uses along our roadways.
How do I register my NC photovoltaic or solar thermal system?
The North Carolina Renewable Energy Registry is an online database of renewable energy installations in North Carolina. Over time, we hope to document the thousands of systems in the state as a reference and research tool. In addition, it will allow us to monitor progress toward our statewide Million Solar Roofs goal of 2,500 new solar installations by the year 2010. Please assist us by registering your system. Your name and address will be kept confidential and will not appear on the website.
What is the Million Solar Roofs Initiative?
Announced in June 1997, Million Solar Roofs (MSRI) is an initiative to facilitate the installation of solar energy systems on one million U.S. buildings by 2010. The initiative includes two types of solar technology: solar electric systems (or photovoltaics) that produce electricity from sunlight and solar thermal systems that produce heat for domestic hot water, space heating, or heating swimming pools.
Find out more at www.millionsolarroofs.com
Residential Solar
Does NC have a green building program?
Yes. The NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program provides visibility and certification of homes for residential builders who practice sustainable, high performance building practices.
I’m interested in solar technologies for my home. Where can I go to see solar technologies in use?
The Solar House at North Carolina State University is one of the most visible and visited solar buildings in the United States. The house is open to the public and demonstrates features that include passive solar heating, daylighting, solar water heating, photovoltaics, a geothermal heat pump and other energy efficiency techniques.
You can also participate in the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association’s annual Solar and Green Building Tour. The tour is held in October of each year in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society’s solar home tour. The Million Solar Roofs Community Partners participate in the tour by organizing tours in their communities. If you would like to participate in or attend the tour, contact the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.
Financial
Does NC have a green building program?
Yes. The NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program provides visibility and certification of homes for residential builders who practice sustainable, high performance building practices.
Solar Schools
What is the Junior Solar Sprint?
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Program is a classroom-based, hands-on educational program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. JSS student teams apply math, science, and creativity to construct model solar-powered cars and race them in interscholastic competitions hosted within their schools or within their states or regions. NC’s Junior Solar Sprint is held each spring in conjunction with the NC EV Challenge, an electrical vehicle educational program for high school students.
The 2005 NC Junior Solar Sprint will take place on April 2, 2005 at Wakefield High School in Raleigh. Contact Bryan Roy at the North Carolina Solar Center (919.513.7327 or bryan_roy@ncsu.edu) for more information.
The Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Program run by the NC Solar Center is a competition for Middle School students. After learning the basics of Photovoltaics, electronics, vehicle components and automotive design, teams of students’ work together to create a solar powered vehicle. The vehicle must use the designated solar panel and motor to create a car that will race down the track the fastest while carrying an empty soda can. Coordinators from the program assist the teachers and visit each school to build enthusiasm for the program and give guidance to the student’s projects. The final competition in Raleigh brings all twelve schools together and judges the vehicles on creativity, design, and performance.
Green Power
What is NC GreenPower and how does it support solar in NC?
NC GreenPower is an independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy. A landmark initiative approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission, NC GreenPower is the first statewide green energy program in the nation supported by all the state’s utilities and administered by Advanced Energy, an independent nonprofit corporation located in Raleigh, N.C.
The goal of NC GreenPower is to supplement the state’s existing power supply with more green energy – electricity generated from renewable resources like the sun, wind and organic matter. The program accepts financial contributions from North Carolina citizens and businesses to help offset the cost to produce green energy.
A typical contribution of just $4 per month adds one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy to North Carolina’s power supply. Large-volume users – usually from the corporate sector – may contribute towards 100 or more blocks at a rate of $2.50 per block with a different energy mix.