To this:
Native holly (Ilex opaca)
Is going from this:
Our roof a week ago.
To this:
Our roof now.
That’s right, folks, Wonder Spouse and I have “gone solar.” Human technology will never match the Green World’s efficiency at converting sunlight into energy, but it’s getting better. Good enough, in fact, that when a cost-effective opportunity arose, we couldn’t ignore it.
We’re not making energy yet, because the power company must come and replace our current electric meter with a bidirectional one that will record the energy our panels generate. After that happens, the experts who installed our system predict that we should be able to generate about half of the electricity we consume in a year, and recoup our financial investment in about five years. Not bad for rookie photosynthesizers! 🙂
This evergreen magnolia photosynthesizes all year long. Now Wonder Spouse and I will too, sort of.
Piedmont Gardener 
#1 by jscheitlin@cox.net on December 6, 2014 - 8:38 pm
Looks great. There are more than I imagined would be up there Enjoy.
#2 by piedmontgardener on December 6, 2014 - 9:27 pm
Thanks, Jerree!
#3 by Ruth Held on December 7, 2014 - 6:30 am
That’s great, Catherine. I’ve been thinking of doing that too, but I’m afraid I have too many trees blocking the sun.
#4 by piedmontgardener on December 7, 2014 - 7:43 am
Hello, Cousin! It’s so nice to hear from you. Yes, the down side to living among trees is their insistence on hogging the sun for their own energy needs. 🙂 Wonder Spouse and I would have never been able to do this if we hadn’t lost the great Northern Red Oak that once towered over our house. Thanks for stopping by, and happy holidays!