Macon Habitat, Mercer University receives $60,000 Solar Power System Grant

More homeowners will now have a new way to power their homes.

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In high definition this is the 41nbc news at six... some homeowners will now have a new way to power their homes.

The all points north foundation awarded a 60-thousand dollar grant to habitat for humanity of macon and mercer university.

41 nbc's rashaad vann has more on how it will provide installation of low-cost solar panel systems to 5 habitat homes.

With the 60 thousand dollar grant, executive director of habitat for humanity ivey hall says the groups aim to make owning a home less costly.

Hall: we will work with mercer with their engineering school, and with students from mercer to lead the project and install the solar panels on each of the houses.

Dr. michael maccarthy, director of mercer's engineering for development program says with the funding, the program will also give mercer students hands-on experience with creating more energy efficient homes.

Maccarthy: we believe that in addition to providing clean-energy systems for habitat homeowners, this project will expose numerous students to habitat construction and solar pv design and installation to help promote solar pv options to the wider macon community.

Hall says the grant will pay for the habitat homes to receive solar panels systems at no cost.... hall: this will be another step to be able to bring solar power to our homeowners to continue to keep their utility cost low," hall said.

The all points north foundation said in a news release the solar panels could reduce energy costs by as much at 80%, and save the homeowner nearly a thousand-dollars in energy costs each year.

Hall: this will bring down that cost even more, and the exact amount will depend on the homeowner and where they set their thermostat every year and how much power they use," hall said.

"this will offset their bill a quite bit to be able to keep their cost low throughout the year."

Habitat for humanity of macon plans to complete the project by 2021 to help homes become more energy-efficient.

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