Post written by Johnny Wen, Fairfax County resident
Johnny and Joanna Wen are helping lead a solar revolution in their Fairfax County neighborhood. The couple switched to renewable energy in 2019 and now more than seven of their neighbors have gone solar too.
Read our interview with the Wens to see how they continue to look for ways to reduce their energy use at home, and how you can join them in becoming a climate champion!
My wife, Joanna, has lived in Fairfax County her entire life. In fact, her parents live next door in the same home she lived in growing up! I was born and raised in Warrenton, Va., and moved to Fairfax County in 2006. There is so much we love about Fairfax County. From the diverse community to the amazing schools, the list is long, but if we were to pick a single thing it would be our family and friends.
What made you decide to go solar?
We’ve always been eco-conscious, trying to make choices to minimize our carbon footprint. We bought our first electric vehicle (EV) in 2015. In conjunction with a home renovation, we took the opportunity to invest in solar and install a 10 kW (kilowatt) system on our new roof.
Where did you go for information on what to do and how to do it?
We learned a great deal from the Solarize Virginia program by attending an event at the Fairfax Government Center. Unfortunately, the timing of the program didn't match up with our renovation schedule. So when we were ready, we did some additional shopping around and came across a fellow Virginia Tech Hokie who had (at the time) recently started a solar installation business.
What was the process like – from finding an installer to turning the system on?
The process was so simple and painless. We were given a couple of options to choose from that were very competitive in price with others we had received quotes from. The project was coordinated seamlessly with our home renovation contractors and Dominion Energy, and the system was installed in two days. We had it activated before we even fully moved back into our home.
What type of savings have you seen on your energy bills since you got the system?
For five months out of the year, our bill from Dominion is $7 (service fees). Even in the winter, our electric bill is reduced. Overall, our energy bill was cut in about half. This includes the energy consumed by charging our two EVs.
We understand a lot of your neighbors have gone solar too – are people learning from each other?
Yes! It's been a solar revolution on Marymead Drive. We're a small community of 32 homes and 8 of us have gone solar. The benefits and positive reviews spread across our tight-knit community quickly. Several homeowners are now looking to expand their systems to cover more of their energy usage.
What would you tell other families thinking about installing solar?
Solar comes with a hefty up-front cost, but the cost is well worth it in the long-run and if it works on your home. To take advantage of solar you need to have an unshaded roof preferably south-facing. There's a great website (https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/) which will give you a general sense of the solar potential of your home. Editor note: You can also investigate your property’s solar potential by visiting the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's NOVA Solar Map.
Have you made any other energy improvements at your home?
As part of our home renovation, we changed out our 30-plus year-old windows which had the most noticeable energy improvement. Some other changes we've made over the years have been changing out all our lights to LEDs, having problem areas professionally spray foamed to increase insulation effectiveness, and swapping out all our lawn tools to electric-powered ones.
Want to see and hear more from the Wens about getting solar? Watch our video: Solar Power: Fairfax County Residents Go Solar.
Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters.