AmeriPride Services, has partnered with Solect Energy Development, a Solar Power World 2014 Top 400 Contractor, to pilot a 210-kW solar photovoltaic energy system atop its Worcester, Mass., facility. The 840-panel system is expected to offset up to 25% of the facility’s electricity needs.
AmeriPride’s green initiatives across their locations include implementation of water reuse and reclamation systems, boiler replacements, and more efficient lighting inside and outside buildings. The company also uses alternative-fuel vehicles and recently installed ‘telematics’ technology across its delivery fleet to improve fuel efficiency.
The system will use Ecolibrium mounting hardware. Solectria Renewables inverters and ET Solar panels.
“AmeriPride is committed to environmental sustainability in our plant and delivery operations, and the investment in a pilot solar project at our Worcester location is a great example of this commitment,” said Brian Keegan, SVP of Plant Operations at AmeriPride. “Massachusetts is a great location for this test program because the state’s financial and tax incentives are incredibly strong. Solect Energy Development made the end-to-end process seamless, and we’re proud to be doing our part to reduce our carbon footprint in Central Massachusetts.”
In addition to the cost savings generated at its Worcester location, AmeriPride is also able to take advantage of state and federal financial and tax incentives, including SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates), which solar system owners earn based on the amount of solar energy their system generates. SRECs are ultimately purchased by electrical utility providers in Massachusetts to help them meet their state-mandated goals of a percentage of power coming from renewable energy sources.
But it’s not just about the money for AmeriPride. These initiatives are driven by management and family owners’ desire to do the right thing for the environment and the communities they serve.
“Financial returns are great, but it’s more than that,” said Cesar Martinez, General Manager of the Worcester branch. “We believe that it’s important to be a leader in environmental sustainability and help facilitate the adoption of new technologies. And when you focus on doing the right thing, good things happen.”
“AmeriPride’s management team has shown a strong commitment to doing its part to reduce its reliance on non-renewable energy sources,” said Steve Bianchi, partner at Solect. “We’re very happy that solar is playing a role in the company’s sustainability efforts, and we’re proud to play a part in making that happen.”