Soenso Solar

Established in 2004, Soenso Solar is located in Marietta, Georgia, USA, near Atlanta. We are one of the oldest and most highly-skilled renewable energy integrators in the state. Soenso is an acronym for our company name, Southern Environmental Solutions.  We are dealers and full-service installers for commercial, residential, agricultural and industrial applications.  Soenso has provided renewable energy systems for clients in a wide variety of categories including office buildings, warehouse facilities, schools, churches, funeral chapels, inns, museums, private residences, restaurants, government, Universities and others.  Soenso Solar serves greater Atlanta, Georgia; greater Chattanooga, Tennessee; north Georgia; middle Georgia and beyond. We provide no-obligation site assessments, engineering support and competitive price quotes for large commercial and industrial projects as well as for residential systems.

Our company, Soenso Solar, founded in 2004, is one of the pioneering renewable energy integrators in Georgia. We are a family-owned and operated business; managed by Roger K. Cone.  Soenso Solar is located in Marietta, Georgia, USA, near Atlanta. Soenso is an acronym for Southern Environmental Solutions. We provide sales and full-service, turnkey installations of commercial and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) electric systems, solar thermal water heating systems and small wind turbines.  Our founding goal is to help supply clean, renewable energy to Georgia; to help our state free itself from its dependence on heavily polluting fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. We sell and install high quality American solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and solar thermal water heating systems and high quality American-made small wind turbines. And we are confident that we have the best installation crew in the state of Georgia.  Soenso Solar encourages the practice of energy conservation first and then the implementation of renewable energy. We are working toward making renewable energy a more significant component of Georgia’s overall energy mix. Our solar and wind energy products qualify for Federal clean energy income tax credits.

Commercial, Industrial, Institutional and Agricultural Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) is a solar power technology that uses an array of solar PV modules (panels) to convert sunlight into electricity. And most of Georgia is considered “very good” for solar PV installations according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In fact Georgia is on par with much of Florida in yearly average solar radiation.  The most important requirements for choosing a site for solar PV are to have a southern exposure to the Sun and no shading issues. Solar PV modules can be roof, ground or pole mounted; they can be designed into canopy systems or awnings. Or they can be integrated into the curtain wall of the building; this is called building integrated solar photovoltaic (BIPV). Most businesses are good potential candidates for solar PV.  Soenso Solar works with agricultural producers, architects, engineers, business owners, developers, electrical contractors, general contractors, LEED APs, property managers, school administrators and other professionals to assist them with incorporating sustainable building practices such as solar PV systems. Under LEED v4, points can be earned by providing a solar PV system that meets LEED-established percentages of a building’s energy requirements.  Coal accounts for about 29% of the fuel mix used in Georgia by power companies to generate electricity. And nearly two out of every three gallons of freshwater withdrawals in our region are sent to electric power plants to meet cooling demands. About a gallon of water is consumed for every kilowatt hour of electricity produced by power plants. So with financial pressures and environmental concerns on the increase related to the production of electricity with coal-fired power plants, the cost of electricity from utility companies will continue to rise.  And because solar photovoltaic is becoming more main stream, the cost per watt of installed solar PV is expected to decrease. A solar photovoltaic investment is an effective hedge against rising energy prices. And solar energy is the ultimate statement of going green. Solar PV electricity production uses no fossil fuels, and it generates zero carbon emissions. It creates positive feedback from employees, customers, suppliers and everyone who interacts with a business

Commercial, Industrial, Institutional and Agricultural Solar Thermal Water Heating Systems

Solar thermal is a technology used for harnessing the Sun’s energy to heat water. And water heating represents a huge energy cost in commercial buildings that use a lot of hot water. Some examples are hotels, dormitories, gymnasiums, laundries and restaurants. Solar thermal can also be used for process heating systems in industrial applications that require large amounts of hot water.  The two major parts of a solar thermal system are solar collectors and a storage tank. A non-freezing, non-toxic propylene glycol fluid circulates through the solar collectors, usually on the roof, to capture the Sun’s heat. Then the glycol circulates through a heat exchanger to heat water in a storage tank. The storage tank supplies pre-heated water to a conventional gas, propane or electric boiler. Therefore the boiler’s make-up water is pre-heated instead of being cold, ground-temperature water. Most of the time the pre-heated water is hot enough to satisfy the boiler’s set point, and its heating element never energizes.  Our commercial solar thermal systems are custom-sized according to the application, with multiple solar collectors and hot water storage tanks. A properly designed solar thermal system can reduce the cost of conventional water heating by 75-80 per cent.  Georgia is considered a very good area for solar thermal installations. In fact we are on par with much of Florida in yearly average solar radiation. The most important requirements for choosing a site for a solar thermal installation are to have a southern exposure to the Sun and no shading issues.  Soenso Solar works with agricultural producers, architects, engineers, business owners, developers, general contractors, LEED APs, plumbing contractors, property managers, school administrators and other professionals to assist them with incorporating sustainable building practices such as solar thermal systems. Under LEED v4, points can be earned by providing a solar thermal system that meets LEED-established percentages of a building’s energy requirements.

Small Wind Turbines for Farms, Homes and Small Businesses

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form. Windmills use wind energy directly as mechanical energy for pumping water or grinding grain. Wind turbines, however, use wind energy to turn a generator that produces electricity.  Small wind turbines are electric generators with rated capacities of 100 kilowatts and less. Small wind turbines utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free power for individual farms, homes and small businesses. With this simple technology, individuals can generate their own power and cut their energy bills while helping to protect the environment.  Soenso Solar is a dealer and professional installer of the “small wind” Skystream 3.7 Wind Turbine, manufactured by XZERES Wind in Wilsonville, Oregon, USA. With a rated capacity of 2.4 kilowatts, it is a fully-integrated, utility-connected, clean, quiet wind generator designed specifically for farms, homes and small businesses.  Skystream 3.7 requires less than one acre of land for operation. It is installed on a self-supporting monopole tower (no guy wires necessary) with a substantial concrete and rebar foundation. The Skystream 3.7 is the first “plug and play” backyard wind generator. Its inverter is built-in, requiring no external box or wiring. The Skystream 3.7 is UL certified and has a five year manufacturer’s warranty.  The average annual wind speed in Georgia is 9.1 mph (Source: National Climatic Data Center). Some sites in higher elevations of the north Georgia mountains have average annual wind speeds of 12 mph (Source: 3TIER FirstLook). The Skystream 3.7 may generate approximately 200 kWh/month with 9 mph average wind speeds and may generate approximately 400 kWh/month with 12 mph average wind speeds. A typical home in Georgia uses about 1,000 kWh/month of electricity. Therefore one Skystream 3.7 usually powers only a portion of a home’s total energy requirements.