Cumming Family Will Live in First Solar Habitat Home

Future homeowners Melonie Lingo and her teenage children, Luke and Madie, will be living in the first solar Habitat for Humanity home in the state this spring.

The project became a reality for and the Lingos – the company contributed $100,000 and will provide employee volunteer labor.

The home will be quite unique – it will receive a Siemens Microinverter System that will convert the sun’s power into safe, affordable electric power saving the Lingos hundreds of dollars annually on electric utility bills.

"Our Microinverter System will create enough energy to offset most, if not all, of the family’s lifetime of electric utility bills," said Barry Contrael, director, Siemens Low Voltage business unit in a news release. "This technology will potentially save the family hundreds of dollars per year."

The solar home will be constructed in partnership with the Lingos. The trio will work side by side with Habitat staff and Siemens volunteers to help build their new home.  

A 'First Nail Ceremony' will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. on the home site located at 5050 Union Hill Road in south Forsyth County.

The house is scheduled to be completed and dedicated to the Lingo family on Saturday, April 21.

About the Lingo Family:

Melonie Lingo has never had a place to call home, even as a child. With the death of her mother at age 20, Melonie learned early in life how important faith in God can be. Melonie married and had three children. After the accidental death of their son at age 3, the Lingo family began to unravel. Once Melonie’s 17-year volatile marriage ended, she went out on her own to raise her other two children, Luke and Madie.

Melonie has rented a home and worked in Forsyth County for several years. She is employed by the Forsyth County Board of Education, originally as a substitute teacher and most recently as a school bus driver. She also works a second job at a landscape company as an administrative assistant.

Melonie’s two teenage children—Luke, who is on the football team at his school, and Madie, who is an animal lover and pet sitter—are thrilled at the thought of finally putting down roots.

The Lingo family is active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Roswell. Through it all, Melonie has counted her blessings and believes it is by His grace that her family has been chosen to partner with Habitat as new homeowners.