As he prepared to move on from his career in the financial industry, Adrian Manning already had a solid plan for how he would spend his time. Long a passionate amateur photographer, he’d acquired a drone that made aerial shots possible, which provided plenty of new territory to explore. The puzzle was how to best prepare for life on a fixed income–-and for Manning, installing home solar would put him in the strongest position.
“It’s a money-saving thing,” said Manning, whose panels went in the summer of 2020. “A few years ago, my wife Delba and I moved into our current home, where we have a large south-facing roof that gets a lot of sun,” said Manning. “I have a friend who went solar and was happy with it, and I was trying to eradicate my monthly bills as I approach retirement.”
All Energy Solar was one of several companies Manning considered for the Belchertown, Massachusetts solar project. “I did my research on the web, read reviews, and eventually I had three companies come out to see the property and meet me in person,” he said. “My wife had some aesthetic concerns about the panels; we have a nice-looking house, and she was hoping for a solar array that would blend in. David, the rep from All Energy Solar, seemed like he really knew his business, answered all my questions, and really listened to what we wanted. He came back with what we were looking for, a design using black-on-black panels that kept our home’s existing aesthetic intact.”
All Energy Solar also worked with him to pace the process so he could get the maximum tax credit value and take advantage of reduced interest rates after the coronavirus slowed down the economy in the spring of 2020. “It was a crazy time, and I’m sure it was very trying for the team, but they put everything together quickly when I was ready to move on it. Everyone was very respectful with wearing masks, they did everything from the outside, and got it done quickly–it took about two days. Our local utility, National Grid, came out the next day, put the meter in, and flipped the switch–it was all very seamless.”
“The best part is not having electricity bills,” said Manning, “and knowing we’ll be in credit for awhile, as we can use the solar monitoring app to confirm that we’re sending loads of electricity to the grid.” And as one of his own gorgeous bird’s eye photos attests, the system design is in harmony with that of the home and property.
