Our Solar Powered Bed & Breakfast

“Solar energy is definitely the future trend of energy. Nowadays, many households have converted their home to be powered solely by solar power, reaping all the advantages offered by the sun” (GoGreen).

As many of you may have read on our Facebook page, we are very excited about the installation of our brand new solar panels and to be officially cooking with REAL natural gas. Our 30 U.S.-made solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are taking gaseous sunlight from around 93 million miles away and converting it into electricity to power our B&B!  The DC current produced by the array of panels is inverted to AC power, which then either offsets the power coming from our utility company, or if it’s producing more than we’re using, goes back out to the grid.

We’re happy to do our small part to reduce our carbon footprint and hopefully inspire others to the same.  In addition to receiving a federal tax credit, we have applied for a grant from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). And thanks to the efforts of some great people in the organizations listed below, the process could not have been easier.

So come see our new solar panels in person on your next Afton Mountain B&B getaway. We look forward to seeing you soon!

1. The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP): This Charlottesville, VA, company excels at energy-saving services, and we’re thrilled to have had them help make our B&B more energy efficient. “LEAP has helped more than 1,500 homeowners in central and northern Virginia enjoy…healthier and more comfortable homes.”

2. Solarize Nelson: The Solarize programs are LEAP’s “grassroots, community-based outreach initiatives” which assess and install solar power to places like Afton Mountain B&B. The Solarize Nelson initiative has resulted in about 25 properties in Nelson County adding solar power to their homes and business. (Interested? Click here to check out some of their informational resources.)

3. Altenergy, Inc.: With offices in Staunton and Charlottesville, Altenergy won the bid from Solarize Nelson to install all of the PV systems for projects throughout Nelson County. Not only did they plan and install the solar array, they also provided tremendous assistance in our REAP grant application process.