One reason for converting a business' power to solar is a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. However, companies should also looks at two important financial benefits. First, the overall reduction or elimination in electricity cost once ROI is achieved from solar panel installation is a major factor. The second consideration is current government incentives for making the green energy change.
Large Companies Leading the Future of Solar Energy
Wal-Mart - All stores use 100% energy efficient light bulbs to reduce energy usage and has made a very strong commitment to converting their stores and warehouses to solar alternatives
Whole Foods - Have installed solar cells at many locations nationwide. They also have purchased renewable energy credits from wind farms to offset 100% of their energy use.
GreenWaste Recovery - Their 1.8-acre system at the material recovery facility in San Jose, CA is one of the largest in California. It's 300KW solar power system produce enough to power 40-50 homes for 12 months.
Solar Systems Energy Usage for Smaller Companies and Non-Profit Organizations
Restaurants - Cooking appliances, air conditioning and refrigeration units make food establishment a great candidate for solar electric systems.
Manufacturing Facilities - Large equipment requires large electric bills to keep them running. Most manufacturing facilities also have ample roof space to install large green energy solutions.
Data Storage Facilities - Hundreds or thousands of hard drives constantly spinning and needing to be kept cool make server farms a great candidate for solar energy. Intel is testing a 10KW solar array at the same location they are also doing research with a system called air side economizer, a passive approach to data center cooling. This data center is located in New Mexico. Because of the hot summers they are using the solar panels to assist with heavy usage during the months of increased temperatures.
Laundromats - Multiple washing machines, dryers and an increasing number of flat screen television sets make this industry another well situated to benefit from solar energy systems.
Churches - Members of the Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, established their church’s solar power system. The 36-kW system from GE Energy is projected to provide two-thirds of the church’s required power. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 17,000 meeting houses around the world and is either building or renovating a new one every weekday of the year. While they have been experimenting with solar and other alternate power sources for many years in other parts of the world and in larger administration buildings, a recent commitment has been made to outfit LEED certified meeting houses with solar panels in North America.
W Denis Nurmela - - Built multi-million $ companies from scratch - Church & Non-Profit Leader - Educated & Avid Reader - Coach, Consultant, ...
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