From the Editor
At last week's National Facilities Management & Technology (NFMT) show, one overarching theme was developing low- and no-cost strategies to continue green initiatives in the down economy. Unfortunately, for many facility executives, photovoltaic panels don't exactly fall into that category.

By most estimates, PV panels have a payback of 15-20 years, depending on the size and efficiency of the solar array. Even with rebates and incentives that may reduce that ROI by a few years, it's still too long for most facility executives to make a successful financial argument to the C-suite.

There are a few other options to explore, however. A power purchasing agreement is an arrangement whereby a third-party company will pay for and install PV panels on your facility and then charge you a fixed rate  — usually pretty competitive, compared with just buying green energy from a utility — for the power produced. The contract usually lasts for about 20 years and the third-party company maintains the PV system.

Another option is an energy performance contract. An energy service company will foot the initial bill for the PV panels (as well as other energy efficiency upgrades) and you pay them back over 10 to 15 years from the guaranteed energy savings.

With President Barack Obama’s proposal for a greenhouse gas cap and trade system in the 2010 federal budget, the spotlight will be shining even more brightly on ways to reduce emissions. And producing your own power from a renewable source is a good way to accomplish that goal.

What's your solar story? With the emphasis on emissions reduction, are you rethinking PV panels? Or has the down economy put any PV plans on indefinite hold?

Cheers,

Greg Zimmerman, editor

PS. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here’s hoping the day inspires you to go green.  
 

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In the News
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As efficiency increases and cost decreases, facility executives may want to take a second look at PV panels. 

Green Toolkit
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency  
This site provides a state-by-state list of all available energy efficiency and alternative energy rebates, incentives, and loans.

Green Pulse
Are you using on-site solar power at your facilities?    

- Yes, we have purchased our own PVs.
- Yes, but we are using a PPA or peformance contract.
- We’d like to but can't make the numbers work.
- We haven’t considered it at all.    

Click here to answer and view results.

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