Topsail Island Trading Co. and The Gift Basket are locally owned retail businesses operated by Topsail Island residents Grier and Kristin Fleischhauer, along with their daughter Claire and son-in-law John Noto. The businesses have long served both residents and visitors with gifts, jewelry, nautical products, weather instruments, and coastal merchandise.
After learning more about solar technology from fellow island residents, the family decided to invest in renewable energy as a way to reduce dependence on utility power while contributing to environmental sustainability within the Topsail Island community. Their goal was to lower long-term operating costs while becoming early adopters of clean energy on the island.
Installing solar in a coastal environment required equipment and system design capable of withstanding salt air, humidity, and severe weather conditions common to barrier island communities.
In addition, the systems needed to integrate into active retail operations without disrupting customers or day-to-day business activities during the busy tourism season. Because these were the first commercial solar installations on Topsail Island, the project also represented a visible step forward for renewable energy adoption within the local business community.
Separate rooftop systems were designed for each business, allowing both facilities to generate their own electricity while maximizing available roof space.
High-efficiency SunPower solar panels were selected for their durability and performance in coastal conditions, including resistance to extreme weather and salt-air exposure.
Installation planning prioritized efficiency and minimal disruption, allowing both systems to be installed and activated quickly.
The systems were designed to maximize long-term energy savings and deliver a strong return on investment through utility savings, tax incentives, and excess energy production.
Cape Fear Solar Systems designed and installed two rooftop solar arrays using SunPower high-efficiency solar modules. A 20.80 kW system was installed at Topsail Island Trading Co. in Surf City, while a 19.84 kW system was installed at The Gift Basket in Topsail Beach.
Together, the systems have generated over 51,000 kWh of electricity, enough to power approximately 57 average homes for one month. Both businesses also produced excess electricity beyond their operational needs, allowing power to be sold back to the grid.
The systems were installed in less than one week, minimizing disruption while providing long-term renewable energy production for both retail locations.
The combined systems are projected to save approximately $171,555 over 25 years, with an estimated payback period of around four years.
Within the first year alone, the businesses saved more than $4,000 in electricity expenses while also generating additional revenue through excess power sent back to the grid.
Both systems integrated seamlessly into daily retail operations without affecting customer experience or business continuity. The rooftop arrays now provide on-site renewable energy that supports year-round operations across both locations.
As the first commercial solar installations on Topsail Island, the projects became visible examples of renewable energy adoption within the local business community. The systems helped introduce solar technology to other island residents and businesses while reinforcing the role local companies can play in environmental stewardship.
The installations also contributed to broader educational outreach efforts, including a solar lecture hosted by the Topsail Island Kiwanis Club highlighting the benefits of solar energy for the community.
This project demonstrates how locally owned businesses can lead renewable energy adoption within coastal communities. By becoming the first businesses on Topsail Island to install solar, Topsail Island Trading Co. and The Gift Basket showed that renewable energy can provide both environmental and financial benefits for small businesses.
The installations also highlight the importance of durable system design in coastal environments, where equipment reliability and weather resistance are critical to long-term performance.
"Our systems, due to the tax savings, tax rebates, and energy savings, will pay for themselves in about 4 years. That is a great return on investment. " --Grier Fleischhauer, Owner, Topsail Island Trading Co & The Gift Basket