Renewables & Sustainability
COMMUNITY SOLAR
Community solar is an exciting way for businesses to participate in solar power production without the need for installing equipment on-site or on the business' property. Community solar arrays are regionally located nearby but off-site and businesses participate by allocating a percentage of the array's production. This type of arrangement can be helpful in market segments such as retail where the business may be a tenant rather than a building owner. Community solar typically also offers immediate savings whereas an on-site installation usually takes year to realize a return on your investment. There is a case for both community solar and on-site solar, but the on-ramp to community solar can be much simpler. UtiliChoice can help you explore both strategies to see which one may work best for you.
STATUS OF COMMUNITY SOLAR
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, published in 2022, as many as 40 states have community solar in some capacity. The volumes and programs are fluid, but as of this report, the top states by MW of AC power capacity in the form of community solar were Florida, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Texas. Just beneath these leaders were Arkansas, Georgia, Colorado, and Illinois. The intensity of the green color below indicates the relative MW-AC capacity of community solar. Ten states, including Hawaii and Alaska, have no installed community solar capacity. The complete report is available here.
LIGHTING IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Energy-efficient lighting upgrades are one of the easiest and most profitable investments for commercial and industrial facilities. According to a study done by UCLA, the survey average of 129 buildings yielded a 45% ROI in the first 2 years.
The vast majority of businesses have not upgraded their lighting with initial cost seen as a prohibiting factor. However, with many incentives and substantial energy savings, it could be money thrown away. There is a vast array of national, state, local, and utility-based incentives and rebates programs available, but digesting them all takes a great deal of time.
UtiliChoice can do the legwork for you, walk you through the process, and help you to quantify your savings.
Click to search the database of State and Federal Incentives...
ON-SITE SOLAR POWER
THE NEW WINDOW FILM
Windows are common. Energy efficient windows are not. Even the windows of not long ago can’t stand up to today’s technology. Windows have a tremendous effect on energy loss and limiting that loss is worth the investment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about one-third of a building’s cooling load is from solar heat gain through windows. Energy savings up to 15% can be achieved with the new window film technologies.
