On Wed., Feb. 22, Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) and Plymouth Better Buildings co-sponsored an event at the Pemi-Valley Laundromat to showcase and celebrate their recent solar energy system installation. Talk about brightening their business!
The Solar Energy Open House provided attendees a chance to see what a solar energy system looked like and an opportunity to learn about the benefits that come with harvesting power from the sun.
PAREI’s dedication to educating the Plymouth community about the importance of renewable energy systems has been a key mission of the organization since it was first formed in 2004.
At this particular event, the PAREI Staff gave an inspiring presentation on solar water heating by highlighting the many benefits of harvesting the sun’s power. Solar energy reduces our dependence on oil, it never runs out, and it’s a clean source of power that doesn’t pollute the atmosphere.
There are also many incentives and rebates available to home and business owners, making the cost of the installation affordable.
Sandra Jones of PAREI said, “The whole price of the solar system installation for Pemi-Valley Laundry was originally $42,000. They were able receive $20,000 in rebates as well as a federal tax cut, making the final total of the installation $11,000.” The payback will only be four and a half years.
Those that attended the event were also able to see the sun at work for themselves, receiving a tour of the brand new system. The south-facing roof displayed an array of solar panels, showing an innovative way to utilize a roof already oriented in the direction of the sun.
They don’t look too shabby either! “The ideal slant of a roof in NH for solar energy is 44 degrees. So this made perfect sense and the investment worthwhile,” Jones said.
Also featured were the tubular solar collectors that heat up an impressive 360 gallons of water stored in tanks in the laundry facility’s basement. “The evacuated solar tubes are recommended for those living in New England. They’re better insulated, so they work more efficiently in cloudy or colder climates”, Jones said.
Overall the event proved to be an eye-opening experience for all, revealing the Plymouth community’s devotion to exploring and learning about alternative energy options. Zak Brohinsky of PAREI said, “The great thing about Plymouth is that it’s a town full of people that are involved in many different projects. They’re all connected in that we’re all fighting for the same goal.”
The Pemi Valley Laundry solar installation is one of 175 installations that have taken place in Plymouth in the past six years and it’s doubtful that it will be the last. For more information on solar energy and energy conservation initiatives, visit plymouthenergy.org.