Inspired by a story about Elon Musk’s SolarCity, Dan Livingston, founder of Northeast Flooring Solutions, a commercial flooring installation company in Londonderry, decided to reinvest in the infrastructure of his office building.
“We occupy a portion of the building, and I knew that the improvements would cover us as we grow and expand,” he said. “It also covers tenants who we share the building with.”
According to Livingston, the tax incentives and rebates, combined with a four-year return on investment, support the move, saving about $22,359 for the first year in electric costs, and the savings will grow as electric utility rates rise.
One of his tenants, Russ Sullivan, who owns Aeration Technologies Inc. was excited about the solar project. “I’m environmentally conscious and worked my entire life in solving environmental issues, particularly water treatment,” Sullivan says. “It’s the same principle we work with in the industries that have an issue with wastewater. I can look at the panels and know we are positively impacting the environment around us. A lot of people don’t understand the long-term positive impact. I know them because I work with them every day. Everyone can contribute a little bit; we just have to put a little something out there.”
BigSky Solar in Concord installed the 112.35kW DC system in March and it went live in April. The expected lifetime of the system is about 25 years and generates enough power for the entire building. It reduces their carbon footprint by 2,298 tons of CO2 over the life of the system, equivalent to planting 53,543 trees. Owner Brian Roy says his business has grown by 200% every year, particularly since the government is giving a 30 percent tax incentive that will drop to 26 percent next year.
Pictured from left, Brian Roy, owner of BigSky Solar and Dan Livingston, president of Northeast Flooring Solutions.
Current Issue - April 2024