While we were visiting Giang Nguyen at her home in Takoma, D.C., a deer wandered into her front yard. It was a bit of a surprising sight inside the District, but it also felt perfectly at home in a neighborhood known for its tall trees, quiet streets, and connection to nature.
Giang bought the house at auction knowing it would need work. What followed was a major renovation involving three general contractors.
In fact, her final home inspection was happening while we were there. After everything the house had been through, she learned that two more electrical outlets needed to be added to the kitchen before the renovation could officially pass code. A pretty simple fix compared to what some inspections could be.
After dealing with the delays, decisions, and complications that come with renovating a home, Giang was prepared for solar to be another project she would have to closely manage. Instead, it became one of the easiest parts of the entire experience.
Her word for working with Uprise Solar was simple: “Breezy.”
A historic home in a neighborhood with deep roots
Takoma is one of those communities where the D.C.-Maryland line feels more like a boundary on a map than a division between neighborhoods.
The community dates to 1883, when developer Benjamin Franklin Gilbert began purchasing land on both sides of the District line near the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He envisioned a leafy escape from downtown Washington that would still be easy to reach by train. Takoma became one of the region’s earliest railroad suburbs, known for its tall trees, winding streets, and Victorian-era homes.
Today, Takoma, D.C., and neighboring Takoma Park, Maryland, still share that sense of place. Both sides of the line are shaped by historic houses, independent businesses, and residents who care deeply about their community.
That setting was part of what made Giang’s house worth taking on, even with the work ahead.
Three contractors and one final inspection
Buying a house at auction is not the typical homebuying experience. Neither is going through three general contractors to finish the renovation.
Anyone who has taken on major work at home understands how exhausting it can be. There are constant decisions, unexpected problems, schedules to coordinate, and moments when it feels like the project may never end. When we visited Giang, her final inspection was taking place. Even then, she learned that two additional outlets had to be installed before the house could pass code.
After living through all of that, Giang had every reason to expect solar to become another complicated project. Instead, she described working with Uprise in one word: “Breezy.”
For our team, that is about as good a review as it gets. Solar involves design, permitting, utility paperwork, scheduling, and installation, but homeowners should not have to carry the weight of that process themselves. Our job is to handle the complicated parts and make the experience feel simple.
From a neighborhood Facebook group to solar
Giang first heard about Uprise in a D.C. “Buy Nothing” Facebook group.
Buy Nothing groups are built around neighbors helping neighbors, whether someone is giving away furniture, sharing household items, or exchanging useful local information. For Giang, a conversation in one of those groups became the starting point for going solar with Uprise.
That kind of introduction means a lot to us. Homeowners are understandably careful about whom they allow to work on their homes, especially during or after a difficult renovation. Information shared within a neighborhood carries a level of trust that no advertisement can manufacture.
It also reflects how we hope to grow: one good experience, one honest conversation, and one neighbor at a time.
A storyteller at home in the Washington region
It also reflects how we hope to grow: one good experience, one honest conversation, and one neighbor at a time.
Giang’s own story of finding home spans continents. She was two years old when she left Vietnam as a refugee. After her boat was picked up at sea, her family resettled in Germany.
She later built a career around telling other people’s stories. Giang earned her graduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and now serves as Digital News Director at WTOP News. Her career has taken her through local, national, and international newsrooms, but she has made her home here in the Washington region.
Her house now tells a story of its own. It is a Takoma home purchased at auction, completed through a demanding renovation, and updated with solar for the years ahead.
After everything it took to finish the house, the solar installation could easily have become one more source of stress. Instead, it was the easy part.
And in Giang’s words, it was breezy.
Thinking About Going Solar?
Every homeowner has a different reason for exploring solar. For Giang, it was about reducing reliance on Pepco, lowering electricity costs.
If you live in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia, Uprise Solar & Roofing can help you understand your options without pressure. We will evaluate your roof, electricity usage, and goals, then explain what makes sense for your home.
About Uprise Solar & Roofing
Uprise Solar & Roofing is a Washington, DC-based solar and roofing company serving homeowners and businesses across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Our leadership team brings more than 80 years of combined solar and roofing experience, and our local team manages solar design, permitting, installation, roofing coordination, monitoring, maintenance, and customer support.
We built Uprise to give DMV homeowners clear guidance, reliable communication, and one accountable local partner before, during, and after installation.
