Free public solar education seminars to be offered

 

January 28, 2010, Burlington, Vt. – For many people, “going green” begins with buying locally-grown and organic foods. City Market, Burlington’s only community-owned grocery store, announced today plans to install a solar power system on its roof in downtown Burlington, with the help of VT-based installer groSolar to further its commitment to energy efficiency and green building practices.

 

The 31 kilowatt system, from 136 solar panels, will cover a small percentage of the 16,000 square-foot building’s overall power load, but City Market was attracted to the project as much for financial reasons as for its commitment to sustainable business practices. Installation is planned for February.

 

“Once we looked at the numbers and realized we’ll recoup our up-front costs in less than five years, we knew this investment would bring a strong financial return for our members,” said Clem Nilan, General Manager of City Market. “But this is a business decision that also has tangible social and environmental benefits. One of the central tenets of our mission is to make a difference in the lives of consumers. By reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the local green economy with groSolar, we know we’re doing something worthwhile for the community as well.”

 

White River Junction-based groSolar, now the largest 100 percent U.S.-owned solar distribution company in the nation, will also be offering free monthly “Solar Made Simple” seminars at City Market on February 23, March 23 and April 22, to help educate local residents and business owners about the new economics of solar power. Seminar schedules will be promoted to co-op members and shoppers in the store and through City Market’s print and email newsletters.

 

“We’re excited that a high-profile shopping destination like City Market has made this commitment to a clean-energy future,” said groSolar CEO Jeff Wolfe. “The combination of drastically reduced prices and strong government incentives made this project a smart move for City Market. We’re optimistic because we see many more homeowners and businesses taking advantage of the opportunity solar power offers for long-term energy security, financial savings and protection of our most precious resource: our planet.”

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Spring 2010 when the system is fully functional.

 

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About groSolar
groSolar is North America’s premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar is the largest 100 percent U.S.-owned installation and distribution company in the solar industry. The company has offices and warehouses across the US, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in VT, NJ, NY, CT, MA, MD, DE, PA, and CA. groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, Motech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius, and UniRac into simple solar energy solutions for customers that generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. groSolar’s venture capital investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Ventures, and Calvert Social Investment Fund. Learn more at groSolar.com or call 800.374.4494.

 

 

About City Market