Clark Funeral Chapel in Mt. Pleasant goes solar - The Morning Sun

Clark Funeral Chapel in Mt. Pleasant goes solar - The Morning Sun

Jane Clark and her family have taken the action steps necessary towards converting their small businesses to clean energy.

Owned by Jane and Kristi Clark, Daisy Hill’s solar project has been completed as of January of this year. Clark Funeral Chapel, owned by Dane and Benjamin Clark, is soon to follow. They hope to have their system energized by the beginning of August.

Each of these family-owned businesses prioritizes adaptive change. Jane recognizes their switch to solar energy as “one we felt will protect our environment while at the same time help control and minimize ever-rising energy costs.” They anticipate generating about 90% of their electrical energy usage through solar energy.

The whole conversion process is extensive; the Chapel recruited C&R Electric to take on the job. Built only with a team of two, Blake Siefka and Cody Gruss have spent long hours on the installation of the panels. Once the panels are laid, they install inverters that convert energy from the sun into usable electricity.

The Chapel’s family-oriented perspective has been made a strong priority throughout the whole installation process. The nature of the business has curated an unpredictable schedule for Blake and Cody, as it is crafted around service times. They’ve each spent early mornings and late nights working on the project.

“They have been understanding, patient, and respectful in accommodating our families and services,” Jane says.

The family’s dedication and awareness to community needs is evident, and not just with their attention to reducing carbon footprints. Dane Clark, Jane’s husband, built the Chapel in 1998.

“He built one level, totally handicap accessible, had a larger gathering foyer, and a children’s playroom. Later, realizing families needed a convenient place to relax, enjoy refreshments during visitation or hold a funeral luncheon, we added on the Reflections Reception Center.”

In addition, they built a landscaping pond for guests who were partial to being outside. This attention to detail spans into the family’s drive for all kinds of innovation. As one of the first funeral homes to launch their own website, the Clarks embrace the positive outcomes technology can have on local businesses.

While going solar was not an easy process to enlist, the Clark family and their businesses have embraced the challenge in the name of change. “As a family we know times change, and we constantly try to not only embrace forward-thinking, but to act on it.”