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Community Corner

Solar Power Open House Well-Received

“We had a tremendously positive response to educating the Open House attendees on the financial savings and positive environmental impacts of solar power for commercial and industrial buildings, and homes, in Connecticut,” stated Marcel Veronneau, founder of ESST, Energy Systems Sales and Training, LLC, Open House hosts. ESST welcomed about 30 guests to its’ first Solar Power Open House on Saturday, August 3, at ESST’s headquarters at 233 Mill Street in Waterbury. Veronneau provided with a very-well-received comprehensive overview on the notable financial benefits of solar investments that result from generous grants, subsidies, and tax benefits from the federal government, states and utility companies. He also provided insights into advances in solar panel efficiency and why solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have become a very attractive investment option for building owners in Connecticut.

CEFIA – Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority Senior Manger of Clean Energy Finance, Benjamin Healey, was ESST’s very well-received guest speaker. Healey provided attendees with notable insights into the various incentives offered by the State of Connecticut to commercial and residential building owners who incorporate solar energy into the maintaining of their buildings. Fielding numerous questions from attendees, Healey made it very clear that the ‘financial benefits are significant’ for building owners. As an example, he stated that, “A homeowner planning to spend $30,000 to have a solar system installed could apply for grants through CEFIA and receive approximately $20,000 in incentives toward that purchase. Of course, the homeowner must apply for the grants having done the proper homework of outlining what system would be installed, by what certified company, the size of the roof, the building size, etc. etc.”

Healey also spoke at length about CEFIA’s innovative C-PACE Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy programs that can help commercial and industrial building owners finance energy-efficiency and clean-energy improvements with solar power for tax and cost savings. The C-PACE programs are the result of legislation passed on January 1, 2013 to work with building owners, municipalities, contractors, project developers and investors to assist them to access affordable financing for energy upgrades for most commercial buildings. Through C-PACE, CEFIA has projects across Connecticut that are helping commercial, industrial and multi-family property owners access affordable, long-term financing for smart energy upgrades to their buildings.

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Before the CEFIA presentation, Open House attendees toured ESST’s 7,000 square foot rooftop where a 45 KW solar PV system with 182 solar energy panels was recently installed for an estimated $11,000 in annual cost savings. “Our rooftop system,” stated Veronneau, “is fully grid-tied to Northeast Utilities which instantly reduced our electrical bill. This system produces enough energy to power nine residential homes with each panel producing 250 watts of electrical power. We guarantee that when a solar PV system is installed correctly, it has the capability to provide measurable cost, and tax, savings during the lifetime of the building.”

The July 3rd Open House is the first in a series of Open House events designed to introduce ‘green’ oriented commercial and industrial building owners, ‘green’ builders and ‘green’-oriented homeowners to the many benefits of affordable, renewable solar energy.

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To learn more about solar energy power systems and installation, contact ESST at 203-841-0092, visit www.EnergySystemsLLC.com, or contact Marcel Veronneau at marcel@EnergySystemsLLC.com or directly at 203-808-2544. 
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