Local firm leads solar revolution

By Jonathan Allen Fort Mill Times
(Published August 29, 2007)

Years ago, a frog named Kermit famously sang, "It's not easy being green."
Now, as the cost of fossil fuels rises, it's making more sense to give it a try.

Brant Patton has been helping people all over North and South Carolina reduce their environmental footprint and save money in the process since 1992. He installed a solar water heating system on his Summerville home that year. These days, he's running his family's company, Patton General Contracting, out of an office on Carolina Place, and installing solar water heating systems for homes, pools and businesses is among several services he offers.

"A lot of people thought I was a nut job," Patton said. "But it made sense to me."

While building a new home, Patton studied the differences between a solar system and a conventional gas or electric water heater. He chose solar. Gas and electric require people to pay for the hardware up front and then pay for the energy used each month to make use of the hardware. But a solar system lowered his utility bills because he didn't have to pay for most of the energy used to heat his water.

There are several different solar water heater options on the market. Most include a backup electric heating element in the water tank that will turn on to keep the water hot overnight, or to boost the temperature above 120 degrees. During sunny days, 120 degrees is about as hot as the water will get, but even on overcast days the water temperature will get up into the 90s, he said.

Patton proudly declares his company is the leading installer of solar water heating systems on the East Coast and the 41st largest residential remodeling company in the country. PGC has offices in Fort Mill, Columbia and Summerville, and in Raleigh, N.C., and will open offices in Birmingham, Ala., and Orlando, Fla.

The company recently retrofitted the Quality Inn in Rock Hill with solar water heaters. The computer-controlled system adjusts the tilt of the solar collectors on top of the hotel during the day to maximize sunlight.

When PGC installs residential systems, the collectors are usually installed on the south-facing sides of the roof.

"We want the system to look good because we want to sell one to the neighbors, too," Patton said.

PGC is selling more solar systems in North Carolina than South Carolina right now, mainly because N.C. offers a tax credit up to 35 percent of the cost of the system, up to $10,500. In North Carolina, the power grid is set up as a "net metering" system, which means people or businesses that produce more power than they actually use get paid for their excess power.

South Carolina is one of eight states that does not have a "net metering" system, Patton said, and the state's incentives aren't as generous - a 25 percent tax credit, up to $3,500.

"Unfortunately, it's not as aggressive in South Carolina yet," he said. "But if you can go renewable and use a renewable resource and actually make money, is there any reason you wouldn't?"

A home solar water heating system can range $7,000 to $9,000. But figuring in tax credits and monthly utility savings, the systems can pay for themselves in a few years, Patton said. The systems are engineered to last 15 to 30 years, and can hold up to three times as much water as a conventional electric or gas water heater.