Today we continue the Humans of Uprise series! We love getting to know our neighbors who are making the switch to clean energy, and we’re excited to share those stories with you. Meet Rob Burman, who went solar with Uprise in December 2022.
An Interest In Solar Sparked By NASA
Rob, who lives in a Ward 7 rowhouse with wife Jen Morrissey, was intrigued by solar as soon as he learned about it, back in high school.
“I’ve been fascinated by [solar] since I was aware it was a thing,” Rob says. “The high school I went to had a greenhouse and they actually had — and this is like the mid 90s — they had solar panels on it that they actually had gotten from NASA. They were probably terrible. I don’t think they really accomplished that much, but I was like, oh, that’s neat. So I’ve always wanted to do it and, when we bought the house, it was really high on my list.”
He obtained a 4.8 kilowatt solar system through Uprise’s no-cost solar program. “I really, really wanted to own a system, but how do you say no to not spending $15,000?” Rob says. “I can live without the SRECs. I like not paying for electricity.”
The Solar Difference
And he’s definitely seen a difference in the couple’s Pepco bills. “In the summer, it was huge,” he says. “Our electric bills are like five bucks during the summer and we’re running the AC. Last year it was around a hundred, so it’s huge.”
While their roof isn’t large, it faces the south, the optimal direction for solar panels. And as there are no trees or other obstructions shading the roof, their relatively small 12-panel system generates plenty of power. Rob estimates their bills are typically negative in the winter as their home currently has a gas heater.
And like Humans of Uprise customers Nina and Erkin, Rob’s solar array gave him a new outlook on the weather. “When the system first turned on, I was in the solar app like every day,” Rob says. “I would get kind of grumpy if it was cloudy when it wasn’t raining, like, you’re stealing money from me! Either be useful and rain or stop.”
Solar is just one of many efficiency projects the couple has undertaken to upgrade their Kingman Park home. “My hobby is trying to make the house as efficient as possible,” Rob says. It’s a process! So far they’ve added six inches of insulation to the attic, installed a new water heater, and have been replacing the doors, with plenty of plans for the future.
Roof Concerns Relieved
Although the couple was eager to go solar, some prior roof work made them nervous to do so. Shortly after they moved in, they had to have chimney work done, and the work altered how water moved on the roof, leading to water coming down one of their walls. They had to replace the roof. Rob says, “We were super, super hesitant to do anything on the roof after that and Chris was very, very patient with us and it’s been fine.”
There are a couple options for flat roof installations: the solar panels can bolt into a framework that attaches to the parapets, or party walls, on either side of the roof, or the framework can attach directly to the roof surface. The racking system design depends on roof space and parapet material. The framework for Rob’s solar panels attaches directly onto his roof. But even with their roof concerns, the solar panels haven’t caused problems for Rob and Jen at all. (You can read more on the technical specs of flat roof attachments here to find out why they’re safe!) Plus, Rob found that type of racking system allows for an array with a lower profile.
“I never even notice that the system is up there unless I’m at the end of the yard and I’m looking at it specifically,” he says. “Literally the only visual cue is the box in front, and it would be nice not to have it there, but it’s also reminding me that I’m not paying for electricity.”
DC Highlight: Nature Access
Rob is from the DMV; he grew up in Arlington. He went away for college and lived abroad for a while, but ended up coming back “and just stuck around.” DC is home; he says, “At this point, it’s more me, but whenever I go somewhere else it’s just like, oh this is weird.”
One aspect of the area he really likes is all the options for getting outside. Rob and Jen enjoy camping, often at Shenandoah, but before our conversation they’d recently camped just around 20 miles from the city in Lorton, and Rob says “that was neat just for how accessible it was.” He also enjoys nearby beaches and the Bay.
Ready To Switch To Clean Energy And Save On Your Bills?
You too can go solar at no cost and see the difference renewable energy makes in your electric bills! Call us at (202) 280-2285 or reach out online to start your solar journey.
And be sure to check out our Humans of Uprise page to read more stories of DC neighbors making the switch to clean energy!