Commercial Solar Power
The Maple Hill Farm and Conference Center uses a combined solar hot water and solar electric system to reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 40,000 pounds.
Owner Scott Cowger estimates that 20 percent of his customers choose Maple Hill Farm because of the inn's green practices.
Read more about this system or view real-time system output online.
Grid-tied solar electricity allows your business to lock in your electricity rate for decades, avoiding the cost increases and volatility of utility-supplied electricity.
Grid-tied solar power is also the easiest way to start producing your own clean, renewable electricity to offset the massive CO2 emissions that come from America's coal and gas-fired power plants.
With no moving parts anywhere in the entire system, grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most reliable renewable energy technology available. This is why PV manufacturers warranty their panels for 25 years, while the expected lifespan of PV panels is closer to 50 years.
As fossil fuel costs continue to rise, solar energy investments become financially advantageous.
Example Solar Electric Systems:
Click on any photo below for a larger version from our commercial solar photo gallery.
State and Federal Rebates and Incentives
Numerous state and federal rebates are available to help you make a solar energy project happen. For example:
- For 2011, a federal tax credit paid out for 30% of the cost of the system regardless of tax liability
- For 2011, 100% accelerated depreciation that can reduce your tax liability by as much as 34% of the system cost
- State rebates up to $50,000 in New Hampshire or $2,000 in Maine
- See our Commercial Solar Power Project Gallery
- Read blog write-ups of Commercial Projects
See our full listing of state and federal solar rebates and incentives.
The Impact of Incentives on Solar Power Cost:
10 KW commercial solar electric system developed for a Maine State Housing Authority project in Augusta, Maine
See more photos of this system in our photo gallery.
Purchasing Options
Businesses may purchase a solar electric system for cash and take advantage of federal tax credits and depreciation allowance. Alternatively, the company may either finance the installed system or utilize a lease purchase arrangement.
Financing Options
ReVision Energy can help arrange financing for customers, either as a project debt or with a lease/purchase arrangement. Creative financing may enable a business to avoid using funds from its capital budget to purchase the solar system. Profitable businesses may also use financing to monetize their tax credits and apply the energy savings and earnings from energy certificate sales to offset the loan payments.
The Value of Green Marketing
A solar system represents a strong commitment to sustainability and most of our commercial clients want to share this with their customers. And their customers respond - with nearly all reporting increases in business thanks to their green marketing endeavors.
Here are a few examples:
Maple Hill Farm and Conference Center
The Maple Hill Farm and Conference Center uses a combined solar hot water and solar electric system to reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 40,000 pounds.
Owner Scott Cowger estimates that 20 percent of his customers choose Maple Hill Farm because of the inn's green practices. Maple Hill Farm received Maine's first "Environmental Leader" Green Lodging Inn Certification in 2005.
View the Maple Hill Farm eco friendly features page or view real-time system output online.
Beachmere Inn - Ogunquit, Maine
The Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, Maine proudly flaunts their green iniatives, which include solar hot water for over 32 rooms, a 5kw solar electric array, energy efficiency improvements, and water saving measures.
Their efforts earned them an Environmental Leader in Hospitality certification.
View their green initatives page.
NEWAIM Fiber Mill - Waldoboro, Maine
After making several weatherization improvements to their building, the owners of NEWAIM Fiber Mill in Waldoboro, Maine, focused on reducing fossil fuels used for hot water heating. The result was a 90 tube solar hot water system that acts to preheat the water that enters their propane fired water heater.
NEWAIM now advertises their fiber mill as being "solar powered" with lots of information on their solar hot water system available on their website.
Scratch Bakery - South Portland, Maine
Scratch Bakery is a prominent fixture in their neighborhood of South Portland, occupying Willard Square. They see their solar hot water system as a statement to the community.
The system has reduced propane usage at the bakery by 25%.
Engaging ReVision Energy
If you're ready to start talking about solar for your business, please contact us for a free, professional, and in-depth consultation about your energy use and viable of solar for your location.
We also frequently bid on projects and are engaged by engineers and architects as a sub-contractor or designer on renewable energy systems.
Here are some other resources for your review:
