This Development Company Is Putting Solar On All Their New Buildings
Dousevicz Inc partnered with SunCommon on 4 multi-resident buildings and installed 530 kW of solar already, with plans for more.
Why? “It’s a no brainer,” Jed Dousevicz says.
The company knows that putting solar on a commercial development project will save them tens of thousands of dollars in energy savings over the lifetime of the system. All those savings mean more capital for future growth. It’s a virtuous cycle.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Solar is more accessible than ever
Solar isn’t just for big business, we’ve installed our fair share of small businesses too! Especially if you want to take advantages of the tax incentives you’ll get, solar really is a “no brainer.”
Are you looking for a locally owned senior independent living community powered by renewable energy?
Look no further, learn more about Williston Place.
In October 2018, SunCommon built Vermont’s first metal-frame solar parking canopy at the Alchemist Brewery and Visitor’s Center in Stowe.
The Solar Parking Canopy at The Alchemist Brewery
Jen and John Kimmich, owners of The Alchemist, want their business to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We helped them out by installing nearly 400 solar panels in their parking lot.
Solar parking canopies have been installed across the country, but The Alchemist’s system is the first one in Vermont, and represents an important step towards our clean energy future.
Vermont regulators want more solar installed in the “built environment,” that is, putting panels on top of rooftops and other existing infrastructure. And since there aren’t actually enough rooftops in the state to cover its energy needs with solar, parking lot canopies can play a key role in providing that additional surface area.
“There is plenty of pavement in this state where we could install … and really start making a dent in what we have to do as a state,” Alchemist owner John Kimmich said. “Once you pave a parking lot, it’s a dead space. … It’s like, that’s it, you’ve sealed that earth off from the environment. And so we need to do something with it – something smart with it. And that’s where the solar panels come in.”
“This is a taste of what a true clean energy future looks like. Generate energy right where you use it. In this case, where beer enthusiasts park to experience some of the best craft beer in the world!”
– James Moore, SunCommon Co-Founder
About The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a family run brewery specializing in fresh, unfiltered IPA. John and Jen Kimmich originally opened The Alchemist as a 60-seat brew pub in the village of Waterbury in 2003. Afer eight years of success and growing popularity, they decided to open a small production brewery. Today The Alchemist currently operates two breweries in Vermont and handles all local distribution. For more information, go to https://alchemistbeer.com/.
Bove’s Goes Solar at their Milton, VT Facility.
The new Bove’s facility is located in Milton Vermont, where they produce all of Bove’s special variety sauces. Visitors can get a view of how the sauces are produced and can even sample the goods on production days. Also located at the facility is the new catering space, modeled to pay tribute to the original Bove’s restaurant on Pearl Street in Burlington, VT.
For three generations, the Bove Family has been serving Italian food to their community. In 1941, Bove’s Cafe opened on Pearl Street in Burlington, VT. Today, their famous sauce is made in a new (solar) facility in Milton, Vermont and distributed nationally. The new facility runs on renewable energy using solar panels from SunCommon.
About Bove’s.
Originally started as a favorite local cafe in 1941, Bove’s has been making good honest sauces and hearty Italian favorites for over 75 years. Bove’s offer a variety of their original specialty sauces, from pasta to pizza, and their frozen meatballs, and lasagna, nationwide. Bove’s produces all of their sauces at their new headquarters in Milton, VT, where not a jar goes out without a Bove family member’s approval. Their new factory still offers their famous catered recipes and events.
About the Installation
- Solar array size 53 kW
- Total number of solar panels 170
- Installed in 2018
Maple Grove Campground in Georgia, VT Goes Solar.
Maple Grove Campground contacted SunCommon in July of 2017 to discuss the possibility of going solar. You might not think that a campground would consume that much energy, but dozens of RVs and other travelers use power hookups for lights, generators, and electronics every day. The potential impact of going solar for Maple Grove was significant.
In November of 2017, SunCommon broke ground on a 60 panel ground mounted system, in the field adjacent to the campground, that would ultimately meet a third of Maple Grove’s energy needs. The project was completed in less than two weeks!
Maple Grove Campground offers RV, camper, lean-to, and tent sites with full amenities. It’s nestled in a lush maple grove in beautiful Fairfax, VT, and it is one of the first campgrounds in Vermont to be powered by the sun!
“We love the quality of life in Vermont that stems from building small, sustainable communities. It’s the reason we moved to the state and haven’t left. These new solar panels allow us to do our part and keep Vermont green, and we can’t wait to share that with our campers.”
— Maple Grove campground owner Mike McGuiness
About The Maple Grove Campground
The Maple Grove Campground is the ideal Vermont location for a peaceful camping getaway featuring RV and tent sites with full amenities. The owner Michael McGuiness, born in Newburgh, NY in 1966, has spent most of his life enjoying good, old-fashioned camping trips and recreational with family and friends. Michael’s passion for camping and family has brought him to give back to the community in the same way that the community supported him, by giving generations to come a peaceful place to enjoy recreation and nature at his site, the Maple Grove Campground.
Maple Grove Campground 1627 Main Street Fairfax, VT 05454
Website: http://maplegrovecampgroundvt.com
About the Installation
- 62.5 kilowatts in total
- Produces around 23,300 kilowatt hours annually
- 60 350-Watt panels, on 3 separate arrays
The Alchemist goes solar! and they’re donating power to the Waterbury Senior Center.
In February 2018, The Alchemist flipped the switch on a solar array on their cannery shed in Waterbury. This 112-solar panel array combined with an existing membership in a Community Solar Array will bring that location to 100% solar-powered and they have excess to share.
For The Alchemist, focusing on making good beer and building community has been integral to their business since the beginning. They have been donating money to the Waterbury Senior Center for a long time, and sharing solar power is a new way of donating to the organization in support of their work providing food and creating opportunities for the community.
Watch the WPTZ Story Here:
“This could be a great way for lots of businesses to not only invest in solar, but to give back to their communities. It’s a great way to do donations, and they can count on what they’re getting throughout the year,” said Jen Kimmich about why they chose to support the Senior Center this way. Jen and her husband John are co-founders of The Alchemist.
About The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a family run brewery specializing in fresh, unfiltered IPA. John and Jen Kimmich originally opened The Alchemist as a 60-seat brew pub in the village of Waterbury in 2003. Afer eight years of success and growing popularity, they decided to open a small production brewery. Today The Alchemist currently operates two breweries in Vermont and handles all local distribution. For more information, go to https://alchemistbeer.com/.
“We’re committed to our customers not only to brew the best quality beers we can, but to take leadership in addressing our climate challenges, too. Going solar was a natural step. We chose SunCommon as our solar partner because we wanted to work with a company who is invested in our community, and who shares our BCorp values. It has been an absolute pleasure working with them.” —Jen Kimmich
About the Installation
- Installed in early 2018
- Solar array size is 39 kW
- 112 solar panels on the cannery shed in Waterbury
Congratulations, S.T. Paving, on going solar!
A longtime Waterbury business, S.T. Paving, worked with SunCommon to fill the company’s roof with solar. Providing more power than the business needed, owner, John Reynolds, decided to share the excess with his own home and that of four of the company’s long-time employees. For Reynolds, the decision to go solar was primarily financial, but it’s the environmental impact and sharing aspect that has him most excited now.
“I give my employees bonuses, why not give them solar?” said Reynolds.
Reynolds’ granddaughter, Cassidy Berry, whose mother works at S.T. Paving and whose home is one of the beneficiaries of the solar generation said she’s excited to see her grandfather investing in solar. As a 7th grader at Crossett Brook Middle School, she’s in her second year of sustainability curriculum and this is the year they’re focusing on energy. Berry said, “My Grandpa uses a lot of fossil fuels for his work, so his shop being a bit more sustainable is pretty cool.” She’s learning about solar and how it compares with other energy sources and she’s happy that her grandfather is potentially influencing his employees to be more sustainable by sharing his solar with them.
About S.T. Paving, Inc
S.T. Paving, founded in 1970 by John Reynolds, has been paving central Vermont roads and driveways for more than 45 years.
About the Installation
- Solar array size 42.9 kW
- Total number of solar panels 156
- Installed in two parts in 2017
VT Artisan Coffee Is Going Solar
Vermont Artisan Coffee Roasters has installed a bank of SunCommon Solar Canopies to power their new facility while offering protection from the elements for their coffee bar customers and the cars in their lot. The canopies even offer shade to a popular picnic table area where visitors can enjoy views of the Green Mountains.
About VT Artisan Coffee
Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea is a provider of roasted coffees and exotic teas based in Waterbury Center, VT. Their new facility and coffee bar is the heart of their operations here in Vermont. At Artisan Coffee, they believe in farm direct sourcing, organic and fair trade products, and sustainability. SunCommon is proud to have partnered with such an outstanding local business to help them go solar.
About the Installation
- 67kw System
- 20 Carports
- Covering Parking Lot
- Covering Picnic Area
SunCommon Installs 2000+ Panels on St. Albans School
St. Albans Town Educational Center (SATEC) is shifting to solar power. With the help of SunCommon, Vermont’s largest solar company based out of Waterbury, SATEC is going solar with a 640 kW solar array on the rooftop of the school.
The 2,089 panel solar array, producing enough electricity to power 100 local homes, will fully offset the school’s electricity needs, and then some. Upon completion of the solar array later this summer, SATEC will be net-positive meaning the school produces more power than it needs. SATEC will share the excess solar credits with neighboring BFA to reduce their energy costs.
About St. Albans Town Educational Center
SATEC is a PK-8th grade school in the Maple Run Unified School District with approximately 750 students. SATEC has been focused on reducing otheir energy footprint for a number of years. They have retrofitted 90% of the lighting with high efficiency LED replacement, upgraded the air handling system for demand level control ventilation, and installed variable frequency drives to power the heating system pumps. In 2014 they received the designation as an “Energy Star School” through Efficiency Vermont. The solar project with SunCommon is another step in their efficiency and energy reduction efforts.
More Detail About The Project
Location: 169 S Main St, St Albans City, VT 05478
System Size: 640 kW solar array, equivalent to powering 100 local homes
Number of Panels: 2,089
Savings: $400,000 over the life of this system
Think solar might be a good fit for your business or organization? Learn more about our commercial solar program.
In the news!
SATEC’s solar project made headlines across the front page of the St. Albans Messenger. Read all about it!
SunCommon helped Rock Art go solar!
Located in Morrisville, VT, Rock Art Brewery is the first brewery in Vermont to be 100% solar-powered, maybe even the first in the Nation. Congratulations Rock Art!
Visit their website, rockartbrewery.com, to learn more about their brewery and their delicious beers including the SunRocked IPA.
About The Installation
System is designed to meet 100% of Rock Art Brewery’s electricity needs – so from June 2017 forward, all Rock Art beer will be solar-powered beer!
Total project size: 67kW (This could power approximately 10 Vermont homes.)
Total Number of Solar Panels: 200
Location: Rock Art Brewery 632 Laporte Road, Morrisville, VT 05661
Vermont Beer, Meet Vermont Solar.
SunRocked IPA, Vermont’s First Solar Powered Beer
To commemorate the first solar-powered beer, Rock Art brewed the SunRocked IPA. It’s a Limited Run so get yours now!
Nice honey gold body, with a balance of malt and hop flavors. Hop flavors of tropical fruits, berries & citrus. (6% ABV – 60 IBU)
Release Date: June 28th, 2017.
Available at Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville, VT and at local beer sellers including (but not limited to):
- Cheese Traders in South Burlington
- Richmond Market
- Shelburne Market
- Healthy Living Cafe & Market in South Burlington
- Shelburne Meat Market
- Shelburne Meat Market in Williston
- Killington Market
- Brattleboro Food Coop
- Middlebury Natural Foods Coop
- Chittenden Cider Mill & Farmstand in South Burlington
- Village Market in Waterbury
- Crossroads Beverage in Waterbury
- Morrisville Beverage
- Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier
- Pearl Street Beverage in Burlington
- Bristol Discount Beverage
- Lucky Spot in Richmond
- Lyndonville Redemption
- Middlebury Redemption
- Winooski Beverage
- Manchester Beverage
- Stowe Beverage
- Alpine Mart in Stowe
- Public House in Hinesburg
- Beaudry’s Store in Huntington
- Terrill Street Beverage in Rutland
- Beer King in Rutland
- Allen Brothers in Westminstser
- Hidden Acres Campground in Dummerston
Why Did Rock Art Decide to Go Solar?
Can Solar Work For Your Business?
Interested in learning more about our Commercial Solar program or what your business could save by going solar? Click the “Get Started” button below and send us some information about your business. One of our Commercial Solar advisors will reach out to you directly.
On a brisk (single digits!) January morning in our capital city, we unveiled our latest innovation, the Solar Canopy, at the first public installation at Montpelier’s Hunger Mountain Co-op. Though his lips were likely frozen, our co-founder James Moore was able to proudly introduce a personal dream of his, the Solar Canopy, to an audience of SunCommon employees, Hunger Mountain Co-op shoppers, energy industry partners, our state’s entire press corps and our new Governor Phil Scott. Wow.
The muffled mitten-clad applause greeted each speaker to the podium and made our new Governor chuckle as he said “It’s kind of a muted clap over there” before delivering his remarks at his first press conference celebrating this new Vermont innovation.
Governor Scott, a renowned Thunder Road racecar driver, compared the versatile Solar Canopy design to the creative approach needed in working with racecars. “I love when you can accomplish two things at once. I hope to see more [of this ingenuity] in the future. Congratulations to SunCommon and Hunger Mountain Co-op for this tremendous project.”
The solar structure uses beautiful handcrafted timber framing from New Energy Works Timberframers and is a first for Vermont. The Solar Canopy expands solar options beyond the traditional rooftop and backyard and its versatility allows Vermont households and small businesses to go solar over their driveways, parking lots, patios, or woodpiles, or create a new, functional outdoor space. A single bay Solar Canopy, which covers two parking spaces, generates enough solar power for the average Vermont home.
“SunCommon is focused on driving change in our energy economy and that mission fosters innovation. As Vermonters we appreciate our built environment, from our historic downtowns to bucolic barns dotting our roadsides. I designed SunCommon’s new Solar Canopy to be both beautiful and functional, embracing Vermont’s classic heritage and its clean energy future” – James Moore, co-founder of SunCommon
The Solar Canopy can be scaled up to meet the power needs of local businesses while stabilizing their energy costs. “The Solar Canopy suits our bottom line as a smart, sustainable investment,” said Kari Bradley, General Manager of Hunger Mountain Co-op. “We are reducing our electric bill for years to come and expect these panels to generate power for at least 25 years, long after we’ve paid for this project.”
Hunger Mountain Co-op is using the Solar Canopy not only to provide their customers with electric vehicle charging and shelter from inclement weather, but also to inspire.
“Our goal is to motivate members of our community and our 8,000 Co-op members to pursue their own solar projects,” said Bradley. “The Solar Canopy is a beautiful statement of what’s possible with renewable energy and serves as a daily reminder that the Co-op cares about sustainability.”
Want to learn more about the Solar Canopy?
Each Vermont home is unique. We aim to match the right solar solution to your home and property. Now, we can help you go solar over your driveway, your patio, your woodpile, or create a functional, new, outdoor space with this beautiful, timber frame structure.