On the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, families are turning to solar panels to heat the water in their homes. Eventually, 900 homes on the military base will have the shiny reflective panels on the roof. By transfering heat via pipes to a water tank that reaches temperatures of 180 degrees fahrenheit, the solar panels can heat around 75% of the water used by families living on the base.
The emissions-reducing project is being made possible through a deal FLS Energy, which is purchasing all of the solar panels and equipment then selling the hot water back to the company that runs the base. According to the president of FLS, "Camp Lejeune and the house company are saving money through solar [energy], so I think we are really in the midst of a shift in how our nation gets its energy." The initial investment into renewable energy may seem costly, but the long term savings make it all make sense — especially when you consider the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
– Mitchell Flexo
(Via NPR)
Photo: Solar panels recently installed on two homes at Camp Lejeune. (Lance Cpl. Damany S. Coleman/The Globe)