By David Henry, senior director of commercial business development / co-owner at Namaste Solar
The benefits for commercial entities who go solar are massive. From lowered operating expenses to showcasing your commitment to sustainability, investing in solar on your commercial property has the potential to have a positive impact that reaches far and wide.
Recently, Vaisala — a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements — chose Namaste Solar to design and build a 228-kilowatt solar system at their state-of-the-art North American headquarters in Louisville.
A Renewable Energy Future
Vaisala is a leader in their field as well as a leader in corporate sustainability. “As a company that is embedded in communities across the globe, we believe in a future where societies thrive on renewable energy,” says T.J. Mattimore, director of legal for Vaisala North America. “This installation continues Vaisala’s commitment to sustainability and underlines our dedication to achieving our lofty environmental, social, and governance goals. We aim to inspire other companies to embrace sustainable energy solutions and create a cleaner, greener world for all.”
Vaisala also shared how and why they chose Namaste Solar as their solar partner. Among the three finalists for the project, Namaste Solar was the only company to perform a thorough in-person site visit to assess the project. Namaste Solar showed up with a large team onsite for the evaluation and brought different roles and perspectives to truly understand the complexity and goals of Vaisala’s unique vision for the project. That, along with our previous partnership, vast experience, and reputation, is what resulted in Vaisala selecting Namaste Solar.
Engineering and Designing the System
The installations included an innovative vertical array along with two rooftop arrays — one ballasted on a flat roof and the other flush-mounted on a pitched roof.
This project was engineering heavy due to the different surfaces and other technical concerns. With this project, Namaste Solar’s experienced designers and project managers planned for safety, efficiency, buildability, and integration with the existing structure, while protecting existing landscaping.
Namaste Solar’s team brought together decades of combined experience. Because Namaste Solar is vertically integrated, a cross-functional team of designers, project managers, installers, and members of operations & maintenance collaborated to successfully implement a vertical solar array, setting a precedent for future installations.
The Vertical Array
The vertical array used in this project allows Vaisala to blend renewable energy generation with an eye-catching design aesthetic.
For buildings with high electricity usage, the rooftop surfaces may not be large enough to house the amount of solar required to offset the full energy usage. Solar facades bridge this gap, providing an additional surface for solar. And, when a vertical array is combined with rooftop solar, this leads to a significant decrease in energy costs along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further, a solar facade contributes to energy efficiency by providing shade to the building, reducing the need to use energy-intensive air conditioning units.
Aesthetically speaking, the vertical facade looks incredible. And provides an opportunity for Vaisala to prominently demonstrate their commitment to sustainability while raising awareness about the benefits of clean, renewable solar energy. With this project, Vaisala embraced solar power. And in doing so with the highly visible vertical facade, they reduce their carbon footprint while demonstrating their role as a beacon of sustainability within the community.
System Specs of the Vaisala Project
Here are the system specifications and project details:
- Total System Size: 228 kilowatts
- Number of Panels: 492
- Total Arrays: Two rooftop arrays and one vertical facade
- Electrical Consumption Offset: 69%
- Energy Consumption Offset Equivalent: 38 homes
- CO2 Emissions Offset Equivalent: 22,241 gallons of consumed gasoline
Commercial Solar is a Win-Win
The benefits of commercial solar cannot be overstated. Many commercial customers enjoy:
- Lower utility bills and other operating expenses
- Qualification for financial incentives including the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Bonus Depreciation
- Compliance with green ordinance requirements
- Increased property value
- A visual commitment to a sustainable future
- A building that’s more attractive to tenants
For more information about commercial solar, Namaste Solar’s non-commissioned experts will provide honest answers and advice straightforward advice, not a pushy sales pitch. Learn more: namastesolar.com/businessbenefits, 303-816-3893
About the Author:
With more than 20 years in the solar industry and 16-years at Namaste Solar, David Henry is currently focused on commercial business development efforts for Namaste Solar and utilizes his deep and lengthy industry experience to support clients in navigating the intricacies of implementing solar PV projects to achieve their renewable energy goals.
