Northeast Automatic Sprinkler, a fire suppression systems company serving Boston and the eastern part of the state, now has a 65-kW rooftop solar array at its headquarters in Kingston, Massachusetts. The project was completed with the commercial-scale solar systems installer Solect Energy.
The partners say they expect the new system to produce 61,900 kilowatt hours annually — enough to provide 100% of the power needed for the company’s primary facility and all the power for at least another building through net metering.
Founded in 1965, Northeast Automatic Sprinkler specializes in the design, construction, repair, renovation, maintenance, and testing of fire suppression systems. Their commercial office and warehouse has a large flat roof, which Solect Energy says provided optimal space to support a robust solar array.
After Solect Energy conducted an analysis, the fire suppression systems company discovered that it could have substantial savings by producing their own electricity and from a range of incentives. State, federal, and financial incentives also applied, including solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) based on the amount of solar energy the new system generates.
Savings from adding solar has spurred Northeast Automatic Sprinkler to evaluate other environmental initiatives. The company says they recently changed out all of their facility lighting to more energy-efficient fixtures following a thorough lighting energy assessment. They added that savings from the new rooftop solar will go toward other energy efficiency upgrades and initiatives in the future.
Renewables projects, including solar, are expanding in Massachusetts. Last December the state awarded $20 million for 26 energy storage projects. Recipients of the Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) grants included Solect Energy, which has around 400 commercial scale solar projects with businesses, schools, and towns.
In Worcester, a 25-acre site on a capped landfill with 28,600 solar panels called the Greenwood Street Solar Array went online last summer. City officials expect that the project will pay for itself within six years, and ultimately save $30 million over its expected 30-year lifespan.
Earlier this year, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, made the switch to 100% solar power for its campus through an agreement with SolarCity Corporation. The college anticipates saving $8 million over 20 years. The college’s president Jonathan Lash told the Greenfield Recorder at the time, “If we can do it, anybody can do it.”
The 3rd Annual Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Conference takes place May 15 – 17, 2018 in Denver. Learn more here.
