Benefits of Solar Energy

With 78% of United States consumers prioritizing sustainability, organizations are seeking renewable energy sources to appeal to eco-conscious customers and reduce operational costs. Additionally, investors and private equity firms want to invest in companies with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs and sustainability programs. Over 75% of investors believe businesses should increase their ESG efforts.

Switching to solar energy for your commercial building is an excellent step toward this initiative. Our team at SitelogIQ has comprehensive solar photovoltaic (PV) expertise to help your business or organization optimize savings and efficiency. Read on to explore the advantages of solar power for commercial spaces and how our experts can help you reap these benefits.

7 Benefits of Solar Panels for Commercial Buildings and Organizations

Why use solar energy for your facility? Commercial buildings such as hotels, hospitals, shopping centers, warehouses, and facilities such as schools or government centers can benefit from solar power. Here are seven reasons why.

1. Cost Savings

Saving money is one of the biggest commercial solar benefits to consider. Solar energy can significantly reduce electricity bills over the long term. Essentially, it gives consumers an alternative to purchasing electricity from a grid. The power generated by your solar panels replaces the power you would otherwise purchase from your utility.

As of 2021, the average business consumes 5,795 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. This translates to a monthly electric bill of about $650. When you consider the monthly costs of solar panels and the amount of power they produce, the cost of solar panel electricity is lower than that of grid electricity.

With the increasingly high power costs, going solar can be a cost-effective solution for your business. When looking at government buildings, for instance, solar projects make valuable use of a city’s existing infrastructure, ultimately reducing government spending on electricity.

Additionally, manufacturing facilities consume large amounts of electricity, especially during the day. These buildings can benefit from using solar panel-generated electricity during the day and grid power at night or during cloudy weather. This strategy can reduce demand costs without disrupting operations.

2. Environmental Sustainability

Solar energy is a renewable, clean energy source. It doesn’t generate harmful emissions. By installing solar panels, businesses can reduce their carbon footprints, showcase their commitment to sustainability, and appeal to eco-conscious customers. These efforts can also help meet corporate social responsibility goals and enhance brand reputation.

Healthcare facilities rely on substantial energy to power life-saving machinery for patients. They can reduce their carbon emissions, cut electricity expenses, and increase their sustainability efforts by going solar.

3. Energy Independence and Reliability

Educational institutions contribute to about 11% of energy consumption by U.S. buildings and 4% of the country’s carbon emissions. These organizations can see great value and energy independence by switching from the grid to solar power.

Educational buildings often have large, flat roofs, making them ideal candidates for solar panel installation. Solar projects also offer environmental education opportunities for students.

4. Longevity and Low Maintenance

Solar panels are durable and built to withstand various weather conditions. They require minimal maintenance, typically limited to regular cleanings and inspections. This reduces ongoing operational costs and the need for frequent repairs or replacements.

Most solar panels only require maintenance two to four times a year, but you can check the manufacturer’s manual for more specific guidelines. Additionally, the panels may need periodic light cleaning to ensure leaves, dust, and other debris aren’t blocking the sun’s rays.

5. Scalability and Modularity

You can easily expand or modify solar systems to accommodate your changing energy needs. You can upgrade your business’s existing solar setup, provided these changes or additions meet your network provider’s and state’s policies.

Any additions must accommodate the existing panels, battery storage, and inverters. A reliable energy solutions provider like SitelogIQ can help ensure your solar system meets all relevant requirements.

6. Future-Proofing

As the world transitions toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, businesses and organizations that embrace solar energy early on position themselves as leaders in their industry. This future-proofing can:

• Enhance competitiveness.
• Attract environmentally conscious customers, investors, and stakeholders.
• Open up opportunities for collaborations and partnerships.

Switching to solar power shows your customers, tenants, and community that you value sustainability. A company that prioritizes green practices can warrant positive customer feedback, enhancing your brand image.

Reducing carbon footprint is becoming more of a priority in our society. Showing that your business cares about protecting the environment can appeal to customers with similar mindsets.

7. Renewable Energy Credits and Incentives

Installing solar panels can make businesses eligible for various financial incentives, including federal, state, and local tax credits, rebates, grants, and renewable energy certificates. You can qualify for a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the system installed cost.

Some states provide solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs). You can earn one SREC for each megawatt-hour of electricity your commercial solar panels produce, then sell these certificates to electrical utilities. Electricity suppliers purchase SRECs to satisfy their state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, which require that solar power generates a certain amount of their renewable energy.

SRECs are worth anywhere from $5 to $500, depending on your state. Our experts at SitelogIQ can help determine what energy credits and incentives you may be eligible for.

Our Process for Renewable Energy Systems

After learning about the benefits of solar energy, you may be considering solar panels for your commercial facility. At SitelogIQ, we help businesses develop renewable energy storage solutions to increase their grid resiliency, cut electricity costs, and meet their long-term needs.

If you’re looking to install or upgrade solar panels for your commercial building, our energy engineers, contractors, architects, and project managers can assist you. We work with organizations in a variety of industries, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, and government.

Our experts can deliver the following qualifications for your commercial solar needs:

1. Regional-specific design expertise.
2. Environmental knowledge to determine project viability in specific markets.
3. A thorough understanding of local rate and net metering structures to optimize solar opportunities.
4. A nationwide network of solar engineering, procurement, and construction workers (EPCs) to ensure professionalism and quality project results.
5. Numerous transaction and financing options to accommodate your business’s needs.
6. Independent solar analyses by trusted advisors to verify claims of financiers and solar companies.
7. Advanced project management tools for streamlined data access and project visibility.
8. Solar incentives and warranty management.

We’ll start by visiting your property to evaluate the facility’s solar energy capabilities. If solar energy is a feasible option, we’ll work with you to design a practical system for optimal operational savings and reduced energy consumption. We can also assist with financial planning, helping you identify funding streams for your sustainability efforts.

Whether you already have a solar setup or are just getting started, we can work with you to develop a solution that meets your energy goals.

Contact Us to Learn More About Solar for Commercial Properties and Organizations

SitelogIQ has the sustainability expertise needed to help your business implement an effective solar system. Every property has unique needs, and our facility experts can work with you to create a tailored solution. We bring an extensive portfolio of successful customer projects to the table, so you can rely on us to deliver results that:

• Reduce your dependence on the electrical power grid.
• Increase savings by reducing utility demand charges.
• Make your operation more resilient and improve predictability.
• Decrease downtime.

Our design expertise, vendor relationships, buying power, and project management skills can help ensure a successful solar rollout for your commercial facility. To learn more about what our renewable energy storage solutions can do for your business, contact our team today.