Preserving the Past, Powering the Future: Harmony Hollow Goes Solar

Harmony Hollow isn't an ordinary Arizona property.

Tucked into the landscape of Cave Creek, the home and surrounding acreage are part of a much larger story that stretches back thousands of years. Today, owner Steve Greenberg is helping write its next chapter, restoring the property while protecting the land around it and creating a place the community can continue to enjoy.

For Steve, adding solar wasn't simply about lowering an electric bill. It was a natural extension of what Harmony Hollow represents.

A Property Rooted in Arizona History

Long before Harmony Hollow existed, the surrounding Cave Creek area was home to Indigenous communities whose presence can still be seen in archaeological sites, agricultural terraces, and other remnants throughout the region.

Later came mining claims, homesteaders, ranches, and dude ranches.

Harmony Hollow eventually became what Steve describes as an artist colony. A bell maker and a community of fellow artists built and lived on the property for decades, turning it into a gathering place centered around art and creativity.

Over time, however, the home fell into serious disrepair.

When Steve became involved, he saw an opportunity not only to restore the house, but also to protect the surrounding acreage from development.

"This was a prime little spot for a developer to come here and chop it up," Steve explained. "We felt that something had to be done."

Restoring More Than a Home

Preserving Harmony Hollow meant finding a way to respect its history while making the property functional for modern use. The original home was filled with character, including distinctive woodwork, exposed beams, and architectural details worth saving. But it also needed substantial improvements.

One particularly important challenge was cooling.

The property had no air conditioning or ductwork, and its large interior spaces and high ceilings created significant cooling demands. A sophisticated combination of split systems solved the comfort challenge while providing greater efficiency than a traditional ducted system. Even with those efficiency gains, however, keeping the home cool through Arizona’s extreme summers requires considerable electricity.

Today, Harmony Hollow serves a larger purpose.

The property welcomes community groups and gatherings, continuing its long tradition as a place for creativity and connection. Steve hopes visitors leave with a greater appreciation for the surrounding landscape and the importance of protecting it.

With conservation already central to the project, adding solar panels felt like the natural next step.

"With the conservation element and the desire to do this with integrity, really solar was kind of not even a question," Steve said.

Finding the Right Solar Partner

Once Steve connected with Sun Valley Solar Solutions, he was impressed by how straightforward the experience became.

The process began with careful assessments, conversations about the property's unique use and energy needs, data gathering, utility bill analysis, and recommendations for the appropriate technology.

For a complex property like Harmony Hollow, having an experienced team manage those details made a significant difference.

Steve described the experience as "turnkey," particularly appreciating that the project didn't become overwhelmed by permitting delays or complicated procedures.

"The result was just fantastic," he said.

Solar That Works Behind the Scenes

Once the system was operational, Steve could see exactly how it was performing through a simple monitoring app. The technology made it easy to understand how much energy Harmony Hollow was generating and using without requiring constant attention.

But perhaps the most satisfying feedback arrives each month in a much simpler form: the utility bill.

"It's just a great feeling to get that monthly bill from APS and just see it be almost nothing, a fraction of what it was before," Steve said.

For a property with large spaces, significant cooling requirements, and ongoing community use, those savings have an impact that goes beyond the monthly electric bill.

Lower Costs Help Support a Larger Mission

Reducing Harmony Hollow's operating expenses helps make the property more sustainable financially, which in turn supports its continued use by community organizations and groups.

"To keep our costs down really helps the community uses of it and the groups that can take advantage of the property," Steve explained.

Solar also provides greater predictability for the future. Instead of viewing electricity costs as an ongoing burden that could continue increasing over time, Harmony Hollow can generate much of the energy it needs from Arizona's abundant sunshine. In short, the economic and environmental benefits work hand in hand.

"You get the satisfaction of the environmental benefit, you get the economic benefit," he said.

Preserving Harmony Hollow for What Comes Next

Today, Harmony Hollow represents a successful combination of historic preservation, land conservation, community use, and modern technology.

A property once in danger of falling apart or being divided for development has been restored as a place where people can gather, create, and connect with the surrounding landscape.

Solar is helping make that future more sustainable.

For Steve, the decision is one he readily recommends to other Arizona property owners considering solar.

"We have an endless source of energy from our sun," he said. "And we're not using it enough."