Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike King.
Hi Mike, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Florence SC but spent my childhood traversing all around the Carolinas. In 2015 I decided it was time for a new adventure and moved out of the Country to the small Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten. It was a truly wonderful experience until the eye of Hurricane Irma, one of the most ferocious Category 5 storms on record, completely devastated and flattened the entire island. After a week of sleeping on the beach, we were rescued by the U.S. Air Force and taken to the closest U.S. Territory that was not devastated by Irma, Puerto Rico.
It was my 1st time in Puerto Rico and everyone was so loving, caring, and giving. The salvation army and various resorts supplied us with clothing and food because we arrived with just the clothes on our backs. It was a phenomenal 6 days. On day 7 Hurricane Maria, another one of the most ferocious category 5 hurricanes on record, encroached upon the shores of Puerto Rico. I was stuck there for 3 months with no electricity, no communication, and in complete and utter chaos.
Once I got back to the States I took some time off to work through the emotional trauma of experiencing 1st hand how modern society struggles without basic needs, electricity being a main one, and the atrocities that come with that. This created an internal drive and passion for starting a new career in something that would not only help families that struggle during environmentally caused power outages but also significantly helps our society and our future generations as a whole. I decided to start a new career in solar photovoltaics and fell in love! Doing something daily that helps so many people save money while aiding in my personal goal of deleting tons of future greenhouse gasses from entering into our atmosphere checked all the boxes.
Then Covid-19 hit, and the world shut down. I received an email from my former employer stating that they were closing due to the pandemic. It was eye-opening. But by no means was it my toughest battle, nor was it going to get me off the course of My Mission. With that, I spent a few months penciling out every aspect of what I would do if I owned a Solar Company and how I would provide this beautiful service and communicate it to the masses to allow homeowners to take charge of how they get their energy, save money, and shield themselves from unforeseen natural events; thus birthing Enlighten Solar in 2020.
Since our inception, we have partnered with industry leaders to provide the most accurate virtual and in-home custom solutions for homeowners in our State and beyond. Coupled with the most advanced and proven technologies, 30yr warranties, and a beautiful team of like-minded solar warriors we aim to be South Carolinian’s go-to for their smart home energy solutions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
By no means has it been smooth sailing since Enlighten Solar’s inception, the easiest part was designing the logo. After months of consistently reaching out to various installers, equipment providers, financing partners, and recruiting; we have finally built an A+ top-notch team that instills the values and mission I have set for the company.
It is a journey, but one that I embrace wholeheartedly. Most of our clients are interested in our services because they can save a significant amount of money compared to purchasing energy from their utility company. Others reach out to us for innovative home solutions to incorporate EV Charging or Energy Storage for those unexpected moments in life that we all encounter. Either way, within our state we have to do a lot of education because solar energy is a concept that S.C. residents haven’t been thoroughly exposed to, unlike our opposite-coast cousins in CA. So we must 1st educate on preconceived notions and principally what a solar energy system can do for their household. We don’t mind this at all, I named the company Enlighten for a reason haha!
As you know, we’re big fans of Enlighten Solar. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Enlighten Solar is your one-stop shop for all of your solar and smart home needs. If it is time for a new roof and you get a good bit of sunshine, we have partnered with the best local roofing companies in the state to reroof your home before installing your system. With the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022, most homeowners will save huge with this package deal because the 30% Federal tax credit can help offset a significant amount of the total cost. Couple that with the available South Carolina tax credit of an additional 25%, and it makes sense for many homeowners to make the switch while utilizing our Roofing + Solar packages.
With the big push from car manufacturers’ goals of having all-electric car lineups well, #1 your power bill is going to increase substantially. We solve this by incorporating our EV charging systems with a customized Solar Energy System. With this option, your roof produces all of the energy for your home and powers your car(s). Now that is some huge savings right there!
If you are in your home most of the day and are inconvenienced by blackouts, especially if you are close to our beautiful SC coastline during hurricane season, or Upstate in the winter. With severe storms becoming increasingly prominent, we have solutions to back up your most important electrical needs or the entire home with our Solar + Energy Storage Battery Solutions.
This all adds to your property value, but unlike adding a pool or new granite countertops, you may qualify for a 30% federal tax credit and a 25% state tax credit to cover the bulk of the costs. Now that is truly a win win win!
What sets us apart is our attention to detail. We work with you to find the best solutions for your home. We have forged relationships with multiple lenders and have secured special finance rates to assist with making the switch as easy. We pride ourselves on only offering premium equipment and service at a cost that our competitors can’t match!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory occurred after a long arduous drive and I had no idea where we were going. My father drove me to the coast and when I saw that the road ended and on the other side was this beautiful blue wavey water in Myrtle Beach. Well from then on I was hooked! That was my only childhood trip so when I became an adult I moved to Myrtle Beach at the age of 21, lived there for most of my adult life, embraced the culture, and became a true thalassophile!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.enlightensolar.energy
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/enlighten.solar/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/goreenasheville
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/enlighten-solar
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/SolarEnlighten
