LightWave Solar Insider
February 2017 Newsletter
Solar Spotlight: Engelgarten Hog Farm
Solar powered bacon
We were lucky enough to spend some time installing at Engelgarten, LLC, in Bradyville, TN. Farm owners Lorna and Peter Dumas specialize in raising American Guinea Hogs.

"For the homestead farmer, this is the best hog to raise," says Lorna Dumas. "The Guinea hog is hearty, healthy, easy to work with, and they especially like a good belly rub," she adds.

According to Lorna, this particular breed of hog was once used extensively by homesteaders here in the Southeast but is currently endangered because it fell out of favor with the public after the pork industry set its guidelines for a leaner hog. Interest in the breed has been renewed as chefs are now actively seeking this pork for its tender delicious flavor.
Englegarten solar system
The Dumases are almost as passionate about solar as they are about Guinea hogs.

"Solar has been a lifelong dream of ours," explains Lorna. "We try to be good stewards of this earth, and when we saw our chance to go solar, we were ecstatic," she says.

Their 6.5kW solar system will generate about 8,585 kWh of electricity per year which amounts to about $800 annually. Engelgarten chose to have their system supported by battery backup for increased self sufficiency. They no longer have to worry if the electric goes out when incubating chicken eggs or freeze drying food from their garden. Because their well system is electric, they won't have to worry about being without water. The Guinea hogs are even kept within solar powered electric fencing.

Read more about how Engelgarten got a 25% solar energy grant from USDA (next deadline is March 31), the installation process and how their system is performing.
Commercial Solar Workshop in Bowling Green, KY
Solar Workshop
Join us at our first solar workshop of the year. Our presentation will cover everything you want to know about going solar. We will explain how solar works, the financial incentives (up to 60% of commercial solar costs recouped with tax benefits), financing options and more. Bring your electric bill, and we will provide a free preliminary solar estimate!

Commerical Solar Workshop in Bowling Green
Wednesday March 8 from 10:30am-12pm
Stadium Park Plaza - The Bluegrass Room
360 E 8th Avenue
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Solar = Jobs!
The 2016 Solar Jobs Census found that solar employment increased by 51,000 workers, a 25 percent increase over 2015.

Solar industry employment outpaced the overall U.S. economy by 17 times as it increased by over 51,000 jobs, for a total of 260,077 U.S. solar workers! Solar employment has nearly tripled since 2010.

The latest report also found that the percentage of women, African American, and Latino/Hispanic workers increased from 2015. In 2016, the five states with the most solar jobs were California, Massachusetts, Texas, Nevada, and Florida. Learn more at SolarJobsCensus.org.
Where we've been installing...
232kW at Life Data Labs in Cherokee, AL
28kW at VP Holdings in Nashville, TN
10kW at Residence in Christiana, TN
656 Solar Installations and Counting...
LightWave Solar 10th Anniversary
LightWave Solar
877-748-1260

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