Solar Panels for Habitat for Humanity Home

KENNEBUNKPORT -

A Habitat for Humanity home in Kennebunkport has received solar panels installed at no cost to the homeowners, thanks to the generosity of a team of dedicated individuals, businesses, and community organizations. “Habitat’s work to bring safe, efficient, and affordable homes to our area is always a collaborative, community-building effort,” said Amy Nucci, Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity York County. “Without the initiative and generosity of Kennebunkport residents Dave and Lynn Jourdan, the Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club, Rotary District 7780, The Climate Initiative, and Maine Solar Solutions, this important project would not have happened.” The Habitat Home was completed this past August; the solar panel installation was the final project with the house. A second Habitat home next door is under construction, and the group is currently exploring how to provide a solar energy course to the home.

The idea for adding solar panels to the Habitat homes was the brainchild of Rotarian Dave Jourdan and his wife Lynn of Kennebunkport, who wanted to support the use of solar energy and chose these homes in Kennebunkport as an appropriate demonstration project. “We offered a $5,000 challenge grant to Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club to raise the necessary funds and assist in finding partners to fully finance the project with a current estimated cost of $26,000. We asked The Climate Initiative, a non-partisan youth climate education 501 3(c), to work with us on an educational component to teach the community about the environmental benefits of solar.” The club was able to leverage its $3,000 contribution by obtaining a grant of $4,000 from Rotary District 7780. The Jourdans have agreed to match donations to the project and have already matched a $500 donation from Bill and Ki Leffler, also local Rotarians.

The solar panel project is a perfect example of Rotary working to connect individuals and organizations to better the local community. Rotary recognized

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that every kilowatt of energy installed lowers a home’s carbon footprint by 3,000 pounds per year. For an average 5-kilowatt residential system, that equates to a reduction of 15,000 pounds of cardon dioxide (CO2).

Kennebunk Portside

Rotary President Kate Howell notes “This is a significant amount of carbon removal, equivalent to Rotary planting 75 trees. Rotary is at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis and adopted climate change as one of its core focus areas.”

Maine Solar Solutions was hired to install the panels, and generously donated equipment and 100% of the labor cost to install the solar unit on the first home. President of Maine Solar Solutions, Sam Zuckerman, wanted to give back to the community as the company celebrates its 10th anniversary.

“This partnership will allow us to not only give back, but also to make a long-term difference with energy savings, energy independence, and clean energy.” The full donation is estimated to be more than $10,000 in value.

“This project is especially important, as we are seeing ever-rising utility prices in our area. These panels will allow the family to live comfortably in their new efficient and affordable home… including the ability to have lower utility rates and cleaner energy,” said Amy Nucci.

This gift will have a lasting impact, as homeowners Derek and Alicia with their two sons, have sought a permanent residence in this area for over a decade. Derek, who served three tours in the Middle East,

See SOLAR on page 15 . . .