Meet Abe and Sabrina, Princeton residents in the historic Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Abe and Sabrina are involved community members, with Abe being a member of the Princeton Environmental Commission, as well as co-owners of Tay River Homesmiths, and partners at Willard Brothers Woodcutters!
Abe and Sabrina have been planning to install solar for years, but with federal tax incentives for solar expiring at the end of 2025, they moved it to the top of their to-do list. Now, after a journey filled with thoughtful planning, their home is fully electrified with a live solar array.
We’re so excited that they are opening their home to the public alongside 10 other sustainable homeowners in Princeton as part of the 2025 Green House Tour! Keep reading to learn more!
Why Solar? Why Now?
Abe and Sabrina’s decision to go solar wasn’t just about saving money; it was also about sustainability. Their new system is a 6.4 kW system that covers about half of their home’s usage. They shared, “Our home is fully electrified and we own two EVs. We wanted to directly offset our home energy usage as much as possible, given our large electrical load.”
But why was now the right time to install it on their home? Abe and Sabrina said, “We made the home ‘solar ready’ during the renovation project. This involved installing conduit from the roof to the electrical panel in my basement. This allowed us to delay the installation beyond the completion of the renovation, which felt like the right time!” And there really is urgency with the federal solar tax incentive expiring. This incentive allows for a 30% tax credit but expires on December 31, 2025. They took full advantage, “All installations have to be not only completed but operational by December 31, 2025 to qualify for the federal tax incentive so we are running out of time! The return on investment will still be quite good on solar after the incentive expires, so We encourage homeowners to pursue it anyway.” Learn more about the expiring tax credits from Rewiring America.
Finding the Right Installer
Choosing the right installer for your solar project is so important, but having the right resources can really help! Abe and Sabrina’s search for a solar installer led them to another Sustainable Princeton event, “We met our solar installer at the 2024 Sustainable Home Expo, which was conceived and hosted by Sustainable Princeton!” The next Sustainable Home Expo will be held in March, but if you want to find a solar installer before then, we recommend visiting Energy Sage, where you can easily compare quotes from vetted solar professionals on a single website.
Going Solar in a Historic District
Installing solar in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood meant that Abe and Sabrina would have to follow the Historic Preservation Commission’s guidelines. “The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) performed a public review at their annual meeting, in which we strongly urged them to allow for two extra panels on the street-visible front upper roof.”
Typically, historic districts follow the Department of the Interior guidelines, which discourage visible rooftop solar. But Abe and Sabrina made a compelling case: “The Witherspoon-Jackson historic district houses the residents who stand to benefit the most from the cost savings, so we thank HPC for their flexibility and hope my installation is viewed as precedent in future project review!”
Going Beyond Solar
Solar is just one aspect of Abe and Sabrina’s commitment to sustainability. Their gas-free home also features
- Air source heat pumps
- Induction cooktop
- Heat pump water heater and dryer
- Exterior insulation wrap and spray foam cavity insulation for energy efficiency
- Hot water distribution manifold for faster hot water with less waste
- Sustainable landscaping with native plants and a new rain garden
- Locally sourced wood
Tour their home at the 2025 Princeton Green House Tour!
Abe and Sabrina’s home is part of the 2025 Green House Tour, where you can see sustainable living in action. Learn about electrification, solar, energy efficiency, and how to apply these upgrades even in a historic home. Abe and Sabrina shared, “The Green House Tour is a live, hosted visit combined with the excitement of getting to look into some of these beautiful homes.”
There are only a few spots left for the SustainAbeLeigh Historic house! If you miss out you can watch their video tour on the Municipality of Princeton YouTube Channel here!
“This is the third year of the Green House Tours so there is a great database of videos available to the residents of Princeton and beyond on YouTube that can be used as a tool to inspire sustainable building retrofits that are right for you and your home.”Abe said.
There will also be a live video screening and panel discussion that Abe is a part of at the library on September 25th from 7-8:30 PM. Registration is requested but not required!
Don't Own a Roof? You Can Still Benefit From Solar!
Renters and folks with roofs that aren’t fit for solar installations can still receive the savings from clean energy while supporting its growth through community solar projects! Community solar projects are solar arrays located on a building such as a warehouse or parking garage that has little or no need for the energy generated by the solar panels. The solar panels generate electricity for subscribers of the project, which results in a credit on a subscriber’s utility bill. It’s a great way to support the local growth of renewable energy from solar and save a little money on your electric bill each month!
To find available projects in your utility territory using the Community Solar Project Finder created by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Sustainable Jersey.
