Author Archives: SunBug Solar

Mixed Use Development Utilizes Solar Energy in Hamilton, MA

HAMILTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- In June 2022, SunBug Solar finished installing a 54.75 kw rooftop solar array on 59 Willow Street in Hamilton Massachusetts, built by Traggorth Companies of Boston, Mass. This mixed-use development helps the town towards achieving a variety of economic and sustainability goals.

The solar installation will offset 64% of electrical usage for the 18 residential apartments (nine of which will be affordable at 80% the area median income) and the 2,400 square foot ground floor that will have retail space, a lobby, fitness center, and office.

The building design meets Passive House standards, which aim to reduce a building's carbon footprint and ultimately require less energy for heating or cooling.

It's also ideally located for walkability and access to public transportation. It is located one block west of Main Street in downtown Hamilton, a two-minute walk to the Hamilton / Wenham Commuter Rail Station, which provides access to Boston's North Station.

Overall, this project greatly helps the town of Hamilton toward achieving several goals named in the 2014 Hamilton-Wenham Village Vision + Action Plan, the 2020 Housing Production Plan, and the Hamilton Master Plan in regards to economic diversity, access to public transportation, and sustainability.

ABOUT SUNBUG SOLAR:

Founded in Somerville, Massachusetts in 2009, SunBug Solar has spent more than a decade navigating the complexities of the emerging energy landscape, providing best-in-class renewable energy solutions to a wide range of residential and commercial customers. As an employee-owned B Corp and longtime member of the Amicus Solar Cooperative, SunBug believes that doing right by their customers and doing the right thing go hand-in-hand. Their responsive team brings expertise, experience, and a customer-first approach to every project. They embody the SunBug commitment to building a more resilient future by enabling a fundamental shift toward accessible, high-quality renewable energy.

LEARN MORE AT: https://sunbugsolar.com/

In June 2022, SunBug Solar finished installing a 54.75 kw rooftop solar array on 59 Willow Street in Hamilton MA built by Traggorth Companies of Boston, Massachusetts. This mixed-use development helps the town towards achieving a variety of economic and sustainability goals.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

Community Recycling Powered by the Sun

DORCHESTER, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Reuse Center of Boston Building Resources, a charitable non-profit dedicated to keeping reusable materials out of landfills and accessible to homeowners, will use the energy from their new SunBug Solar photovoltaic system to power their efforts. The move to solar power aligns perfectly with the ethos of the organization, and allows this unique Boston institution, founded over 40 years ago, to increase its long-term financial stability by reducing operating costs.

"Environmentalism is part of our organizational DNA at Boston Building Resources," said Mattew St. Onge, the president and executive director of Boston Building Resources. "When we were planning the renovation of the Reuse Center, the great solar potential on our rooftop made the decision to go solar an easy one."

"Having the opportunity to execute this array on the roof of the BBR is a real pleasure for SunBug," noted Ben Mayer, SunBug's VP of marketing. "SunBug's and Boston Building Resources' values are very much aligned. And personally, when I renovated my own home 15 years ago, I found excellent inexpensive doors and windows at the Reuse Center. If you live in Greater Boston and have worked on your home, you know what an important resource BBR is, especially for folks of moderate income."

The 114 panel array is substantial. An annual projected output of 45.6 kWh will be enough energy to provide 100% of the power needed to keep the center running. Other facility improvements include an air conditioning system, which will be a welcomed relief to the warehouse style building in Boston's increasingly blistering summers. An electric vehicle charging station is now open to the public to pay-as-you-charge.

The all-electric HVAC system is powered by the rooftop solar array, so the renovation has made the Reuse Center at BBR the first net zero carbon building in Mission Hill.

About Boston Building Resources:Boston Building Resources inspires, educates, and empowers homeowners to increase the efficiency and value of their homes. As a local social enterprise, we focus on affordable solutions that help all of our neighbors create stronger communities while benefiting the environment.

About SunBug Solar:

SunBug Solar is a solar energy consulting and installation company based in Arlington and Westfield, MA. Founded in 2009 and a Certified B Corporation since 2018, SunBug has installed over two thousand solar systems across Massachusetts, from Great Barrington to Cape Cod. SunBug develops, designs, and installs all types of solar systems including residential and commercial rooftops, carports, and ground-mounts. Learn more: https://sunbugsolar.com/

The Reuse Center of Boston Building Resources, a charitable non-profit dedicated to keeping reusable materials out of landfills and accessible to homeowners, will use the energy from their new SunBug Solar photovoltaic system to power their efforts.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

Heal Vet, a Watertown veterinary clinic known for its gentle touch, goes green and helps offset the costs of running a small business

ARLINGTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Founded by husband-and-wife team Jamie and Amanda Leef in 2017, Heal Vet is located in the Mount Auburn neighborhood intersecting Cambridge, Belmont and Watertown MA. Heal's staff of 20 provides full pet care services in a low-stress environment. In creating Heal's offices, the team used low carbon and nontoxic building materials whenever possible. Their new 48 panel solar electric system, designed and installed by Arlington-based SunBug Solar, is the finishing touch on an environmentally-conscious workplace.

Dr. Amanda Leef's role as owner and doctor of veterinary medicine is hands-on with the animals, while Jamie's job as general manager tasks him to "steer the ship towards success." Jamie's former career in green building and solar energy helped him understand the value a business can derive from owning their own power source on their roof. And his experience installing solar systems for other businesses prepared him for the long utility approval and permitting process.

"What's great about SunBug is that they've been around a long time, and the people they have working in their design and construction have so much experience solving problems," Leef said. "They manage complications properly, and quickly offered insight into how to install a special transformer for my site's unusual electrical configuration. It's one reason to hire a reputable local company. They happen to know the local inspector really well and how best to contact him, and how to file a dispute with local utility companies if it comes to that."

The 19 kW system provides Heal with 75% of the energy they use a year. Energy bills were around $8000 a year which is typical of a small business with a lot of medical supplies. Not only does installing a PV system reduce utility costs, but it also means that their budget line for electricity is shielded from the rising costs of electricity. As a business, Heal takes advantage of federal tax credits and accelerated depreciation on the investment, reducing the initial cost by over 50%. The strategy is perfect for a resilient small business.

Another addition to the project includes a charging station for electric vehicles. Customers and neighbors alike have been happy to take advantage of green electricity in their community. Leef was even inspired to get an electric car for himself. "A Chevrolet Bolt," Leaf said. "Really the nicest car to drive."

Heal Vet is a full service companion animal hospital located in the Mount Auburn neighborhood. They provide comprehensive services including wellness, urgent care, surgery, dentistry, and specialists. Their specially designed modern facility and staff trained in low-stress animal handling techniques provides you and your pet with a better experience. Learn more here: https://www.heal.vet/.

SunBug Solar is a local, Massachusetts owned-and-operated solar energy consulting and installation company with offices in Arlington and Westfield, MA. SunBug Solar creates positive environmental and social impact by exemplifying our core values of responsiveness, resourcefulness, and reliability with our customers, within our industry, and among our teammates. Learn more here: https://sunbugsolar.com/.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Jamie and Amanda Leef in 2017, Heal Vet is located in the Mount Auburn neighborhood intersecting Cambridge, Belmont and Watertown. Their new 48 panel solar electric system, designed and installed by SunBug Solar, is the finishing touch on an environmentally-conscious workplace.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

Local Non-Profit Gets Green Energy with Help from An Innovative Philanthropic Investment

WATERTOWN, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Watertown Boys & Girls Club, a local non-profit, has partnered with Rise Up Solar, a philanthropic solar investment firm, to turn rising energy costs into an opportunity to go green and save big with an installation by SunBug Solar, an energy consulting and installation provider in Massachusetts.

After some renovations to the facilities in 2016, the Watertown Boys & Girls Club's utility bills skyrocketed. Renee Gaudette, Watertown BGC's executive director, recognized that this extra cost took money away from the kids they serve. The organization had already been investigating a solar solution, but years of searching ended due to difficulty with the roof, some lofty trees, and a steep initial cost to invest.

Eventually, the Watertown BGC contacted SunBug Solar, a leading solar installer company for small business and nonprofit organizations in the Commonwealth. Fortunately, they knew a business designed for the challenge.

Peter Glick had worked with SunBug years prior for an installation on his own home in Cambridge. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that with available incentives his payback was only six years, and his rate of return was more appealing than what he could find in the financial markets. He mused how this might work for nonprofits.

Without access to significant capital or tax breaks offered to for-profit businesses, nonprofits are at a substantial disadvantage when it comes to solar. Glick set out to find a solution to this problem and came up with a business model that benefits investors, non-profits, and the installers and other vendors involved. He named his business Rise Up Solar.

Glick's early efforts to find organizations willing to participate were less than encouraging. He tried with 10 organizations he knew, but educating nonprofits on the value proposition was much harder than he'd anticipated. The organizations he approached were highly risk-averse, with a range of concerns involving the technology, the potential impact to their roof, fear of hidden costs and snow build-up, to name a few. When he reconnected with SunBug Solar, a leader among installers serving nonprofit organizations, they briefed him on the Watertown BGC project.

"All of the obstacles seemed to melt away," said Gaudette. "The initial costs were so prohibitive, but the agreement with Rise Up opened up doors."

The Watertown BGC signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rise Up, and Rise up then contracted with SunBug to build the system - a 45kW, 120-panel ballasted solar array which sits on the BGC's flat membrane roof and requires no roof penetrations.

Rise Up will purchase a solar array on behalf of a nonprofit, and will sell the power to the organization at a substantial discount from their current rate - or simply pay the nonprofit to lease their roof space. Rise Up takes the tax credits and incentives, and will own the system until it has generated a modest return. It then gifts the system back to the nonprofit, which receives all financial benefit for the remainder of the solar system's life, which can easily be 20 years or more.

For the next 8-10 years, the Watertown BGC will save money by purchasing power from the array at a discounted rate. Once Rise Up has recouped its investment with a modest return, the system will be gifted to the BGC, which will then enjoy continued incentive payments for another decade and free electricity for another two decades or more. "All in all, it's a compelling win-win," says Glick, "the nonprofit gets solar and all of its benefits, while Rise Up restores its capital so it can approach other nonprofits with a similar offer."

The solar solution is a natural fit for the Watertown BGC. "We try to instill a sense of stewardship in the environment," explained Gaudette. Monitoring the power production serves not only as a financial and problem-solving talking point with the children, but there's also potential to build out a science curriculum centered around the project.

"You can't look at the numbers without reacting positively. We're so impressed with Mr. Glick and his philanthropy," said Gaudette. "He's come up with a very smart, long term solution to the needs of non-profit organizations."

About Watertown Boys and Girls Club:

The mission of the WBGC is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need their services most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club serves approximately 1,000 youth members throughout the year, and also provides activities and services to an additional 1,400 kids through cooperative programs with the Watertown Recreation Department, the Watertown Family Network, and other similar organizations.

About Rise Up Solar:

Rise Up Solar enables community-focused nonprofits to harness all of the environmental and economic benefits of solar power. Since solar tax incentives are unavailable to nonprofit organizations, Rise Up Solar bridges the gap. The firm uses a for-profit model with a non-profit mission, channeling the vast majority of solar's financial benefit to groups that need it most. Further details are available at https://www.riseupsolar.com/.

About SunBug Solar:

SunBug Solar is a solar energy consulting and installation company based in Arlington and Westfield, MA. Founded in 2009 and a Certified B Corporation since 2018, SunBug has installed over two thousand solar systems across Massachusetts, from Great Barrington to Cape Cod. SunBug develops, designs, and installs all types of solar systems including residential and commercial rooftops, carports, and ground-mounts. Learn more: https://sunbugsolar.com/

Watertown Boys & Girls Club, a local non-profit, has partnered with Rise Up Solar, a philanthropic solar investment firm, to turn rising energy costs into an opportunity to go green and save big with an installation by SunBug Solar, an energy consulting and installation provider in Massachusetts.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

Technology Meets Tradition on A Monson Family Farm

MONSON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- SunBug Solar, a Massachusetts-based solar solutions provider, has completed the construction of a dual-use solar-terra photovoltaic system in Monson, Massachusetts. The design of the system allows the local landowner to harvest both sun from above and crops from below on land which has been in the family for three generations.

The system, dubbed "Million Little Sunbeams," and owned by Monson native Nate Tassinari and his wife Ania, is the first operational dual-use agricultural photovoltaic (PV) system in the state.

Generally, solar projects on agricultural land face pushback because traditional solar systems cover the ground in a manner that significantly reduces the amount of available farmland. This project did not face this kind of opposition because a dual-use system doesn't replace crops, it works with them. The array is designed to allow sufficient sunlight for the crops and raised high enough in the air to allow tractors continued access underneath.

"It's a good compromise between the need for innovation and respecting the land," said Tassinari. "Plus, it's my backyard. I want it to be both functional and beautiful!"

Just like all operations on the farm, the system must be designed to make a profit. Designing Million Little Sunbeams to be the most efficient PV system possible required pairing together several innovative technologies.

Million Little Sunbeams features an East-West tracking system from RBI Solar. The array is designed with 20 ft row-spacing and a minimum panel height of 10 ft to improve performance and to allow tractors continued access. Dual-use systems use special solar photovoltaic (PV) racking to harvest power from the same sunlight that nourishes the crops that grow under the mounts. On typical PV systems, solar panels are fixed and so consume the energy from direct sunlight themselves, shading the ground below and rendering it not suitable for crops.

Additionally, the Million Little Sunbeams project uses Longi Perc bifacial panels which allows some solar energy to go through the panels reaching the plants below while capturing radiation on the opposite side of the panel as it bounces off the ground and crops below. Lightly colored crops, such as dry hay, are particularly helpful to this process.

Finally, per panel power optimizers mitigate factors such as shading and aging of the solar panels. Using SolarEdge optimizers, the maximum power point of every module is tracked individually. This advancement prevents one panel from slowing down the rest of the system from operating at full capacity.

The land where the solar array is located has been in his family since Nate's Grandmother bought it more than 70 years ago. The neighboring Murphy Dairy Farm, owned and operated by Nate's cousins, utilize the fields to help feed to their cattle. The Murphy Farm was established in the 1910s by Nate's Great Grandfather; Thomas F. Murphy. Today the farm grows hay, produces milk, and now hosts two types of honey-producing bees as well as a young orchard with variety of fruits, exemplifying the diversity of resources this land generates.

Tassinari had worked with SunBug to put solar on his home in Boston, and reached out to SunBug to see what could be done with this land. When SunBug designed a dual-use solar photovoltaic agricultural solution, Tassinari was able to reconcile tradition with technology, and named the project Million Little Sunbeams after a book by conservationist and author Thornton Burgess.

Tassinari will be able to provide power not just to his own home, but through the Community Solar SMART program, he will also have the opportunity to sell this green power back to the community. Participants save money on their utility bills by purchasing through MLS, and part of the proceeds will be donated to Norcross Wildlife.

The website for Million Little Sunbeams - Millionlittlesunbeams.com - is scheduled to go live on October 22, 2020. There, interested Monson residents and anyone who has National Grid as their electricity provider will be able to learn more and sign up to purchase energy fresh from the farm.

About SunBug Solar:

SunBug Solar is a local, Massachusetts owned-and-operated solar energy consulting and installation company with offices in Arlington and Westfield, Mass. SunBug Solar creates positive environmental and social impact by exemplifying our core values of responsiveness, resourcefulness, and reliability with our customers, within our industry, and among our teammates. Founded in 2009 and a Certified B Corporation.

Visit the website at: https://sunbugsolar.com/.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1020s2p-sb-solar-ranch-300dpi.jpg

*Caption: Bifacial solar panels allow crops to grow on this family farm while producing energy from the sun.

SunBug Solar, a Massachusetts-based solar solutions provider, has completed the construction of a dual-use solar-terra photovoltaic system in Monson, Massachusetts. The design of the system allows the local landowner to harvest both sun from above and crops from below on land which has been in the family for three generations.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

SunBug Solar Celebrates the Milestone of Serving 2000 Customers

WESTFIELD, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- SunBug Solar, a Massachusetts solar energy provider with offices in Westfield and Arlington Mass., is pleased to announce the installation of its 2,000th customer. John Hoogstraten and Eileen Keegan, a couple residing in Williamsburg, Mass., are SunBug's 2,000th clients, having gone solar not once, but twice.

Hoogstraten, a semi-retired contractor, was skeptical at first when first introduced to photovoltaic (PV) solar through the Solarize Mass program in 2014. The program, run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, helps municipalities design, promote, and execute limited- time group programs that educate residents on the benefits of green energy while offering them discounts on installations. Keegan encouraged her husband to overcome that initial skepticism and look into the matter further.

"I figured there was no harm in learning more, so I went to one of their information sessions," said Hoogstraten. "I signed up for a site assessment and we ran the numbers."

When John and Eileen realized that the system would pay for itself in about seven years, they began the process to have his first solar energy system installed. They chose to invest in a plan that would deliver just enough energy to meet their home's consumption.

The system proved profitable for the energy needs of their home, but only when supplemented with the firewood John chops himself. Because John and Eileen plan to age-in-place, and are looking toward a time when chopping wood is no longer feasible nor desirable. Their plan to add air source heat pumps (ASHPs) for heating meant their electric load would increase, and wanted to add additional PV so as to avoid as much fossil fuel use as possible.

Again, through MassCEC they learned about the Solar Access Program, an effort to help homeowners install ASHPs in conjunction with solar. While they did not initially qualify, Dan Britton, a member of the residential solar design team at SunBug's Westfield location encouraged them to not give up. They might qualify in the next calendar year.

"They mentioned they were entering semi-retirement and expected their 2019 income might qualify, so I suggested they can re-apply after they file their 2019 taxes," said Britton.

By March of this year, John and Eileen confirmed their eligibility and the conversation with SunBug continued.

In the end, they opted for an additional 2.5 kW of roof mounted solar and a Tesla Powerwall battery for backup for when the grid goes down. SunBug system designer Dan Britton said it was a clear choice. "We decided to add a battery backup because all of the stars were in alignment: they have a dry, clean basement with space for a battery adjacent to their electric panel, they can include the battery system in the Mass Solar Loan to get additional income-based loan support, they can take advantage of the adder for batteries in the state's SMART solar incentive, and they can opt in to the utility's Connected Solutions program to get additional revenue to offset the battery cost."

SunBug is thrilled to be able to count such committed renewable energy enthusiasts at their 2000th customer, and as a show of appreciation is happily discounting the couple $2000 off their new solar electric system. "That discount will be an enormous help to us as we implement these enhancements to our home and quality of life," said Hoogstraten. "We are thrilled to be doing business with SunBug, tickled to find ourselves in the position of being your 2000th customer, and deeply grateful for this gesture."

"Congratulations to SunBug Solar on their 2000th installation," said MassCEC CEO Steve Pike. "MassCEC is pleased to partner with John Hoogstraten and Eileen Keegan, and 5,500 other Massachusetts residents who have accessed clean, renewable solar power through the Mass Solar Loan program."

About SunBug Solar:

SunBug Solar is a local, Massachusetts owned-and-operated solar energy consulting and installation company with offices in Arlington and Westfield, MA. SunBug Solar creates positive environmental and social impact by exemplifying our core values of responsiveness, resourcefulness, and reliability with our customers, within our industry, and among our teammates. Founded in 2009 and a Certified B Corporation since 2018, SunBug has clients across Massachusetts from Great Barrington to Cape Cod. We design and build all types of solar systems, ranging in size from 1kW to over 1MW, including residential, commercial, carports, and ground-mounts. Our integrated approach - from initial education through consultative design to quality installation and ongoing support - has earned SunBug the highest reputation for customer service, and a host of satisfied residential and commercial customers.

For more information, please visit https://sunbugsolar.com/

SunBug Solar, a Massachusetts solar energy provider with offices in Westfield and Arlington Mass., is pleased to announce the installation of its 2,000th customer. John Hoogstraten and Eileen Keegan, a couple residing in Williamsburg, Mass., are SunBug's 2,000th clients, having gone solar not once, but twice.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

SunBug Solar Becomes a Certified B Corporation

ARLINGTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- SunBug Solar, a local solar installer in Arlington, MA is proud to announce it is now a Certified B Corporation. In so doing, SunBug joins the global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Corps are important because they inspire all businesses to compete not only to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.

Andrea Mitter-Burke, Director of Operations and Co-Owner at SunBug, is passionate about the mission and ramifications of becoming a B Corp. "I appreciate the holistic approach that is required to become a B Corp. The process helped us re-examine all realms of our business, from the work environment to civic engagement to environmental impact. We had to evaluate our habits, our goals, our inspirations - both the good and the bad - and realign and shape them. That's a good thing for any organization to do regularly, but the B Corp process provided a structure for us to do it thoroughly and thoughtfully."

Mike Ozog, a System Designer and Co-Owner at SunBug, was part of the team that worked through the demanding B Corp Certification process. "To get certified as a B Corp, you must exceed stringent social and environmental standards. As a solar integrator, the core work we do every day has a very direct and positive impact on the environment. We take it a step further through various initiatives; we set high standards regarding employee satisfaction and community involvement.

"We have over 15 employee co-owners, which we intend to continue increasing. We implemented policies to encourage employees to volunteer in our community and direct what charities SunBug donates to annually. Those are just a few of the many positive practices that helped us to get certified. With this framework in place, our goal now is to increase our impact every year."

Certified B Corporations meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It's like Fair Trade certification but for the whole business, not just a bag of coffee (or USDA Organic certification, but not just for a carton of milk; or LEED certification, but not just for a building).

The performance standards B Corps meet are comprehensive, transparent and verified.

Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on their shareholders, but also on their stakeholders (e.g., workers, suppliers, community, consumers, and the environment).

About SunBug Solar:
SunBug Solar creates positive environmental and social impact by exemplifying their core values of responsiveness, resourcefulness, and reliability with their customers, within their industry, and among their teammates. Founded in 2009, SunBug has installed over a thousand solar systems across Massachusetts, from Great Barrington to Cape Cod.

The company designs and builds all types of solar systems, ranging in size from 1kW to over 1MW, including residential, commercial, carports, and ground-mounts. Their integrated approach-from initial education through consultative design to quality installation and ongoing support-has earned SunBug the highest reputation for customer service, and a host of satisfied residential and commercial customers.

For more information, please visit http://sunbugsolar.com/.

About B Corporations:
Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good. They meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. There are more than 2,000 Certified B Corporations in over 130 industries and 50 countries with 1 unifying goal - to redefine success in business.

About B Lab:
B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World(r) and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. B Lab drives this systemic change by:
1. Building a global community of Certified B Corporations who meet the highest standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability;
2. Promoting Mission Alignment using innovative corporate structures like the benefit corporation to align the interests of business with those of society and to help high impact businesses be built to last;
3. Helping tens of thousands of businesses, investors, and institutions Measure What Matters, by using the B Impact Assessment and B Analytics to manage their impact -- and the impact of the businesses with whom they work -- with as much rigor as their profits;
4. Inspiring millions to join the movement through compelling story-telling by B the Change Media.

For more information, visit: www.bcorporation.net, www.bimpactassessment.net, www.b-analytics.net and www.benefitcorp.net.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/V-VFZUFJwt4

SunBug Solar, a local solar installer in Arlington, MA is proud to announce it is now a Certified B Corporation. In so doing, SunBug joins the global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Corps are important because they inspire all businesses to compete not only to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.

Related link: http://sunbugsolar.com/

SunBug Solar Completes Solarize Campaign Out of New Western MA Office

WESTFIELD, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- SunBug Solar is proud to announce the completion of the sign-up phase of the Solarize Windsor, Cummington, Goshen and Worthington (Solarize Mass WCGW) initiative. Solarize Mass WCGW is part of a Solarize Mass, a partnership between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Green Communities Division of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) that encourages the adoption of small scale solar in Massachusetts communities.

Since its launch in 2011, 62 cities and towns have participated in Solarize Mass. This has led to the contracting of more than 3,500 new small-scale installations at homes and businesses, amounting to the installation of over 21.4 megawatts of solar power.

Solarize programs offer discounted solar installations to community members based on tiered pricing; the more people that sign up, the lower the price. Through the hard work of Solarize volunteers and the SunBug team, Solarize Mass WCGW surpassed the highest pricing tier, resulting in the lowest possible prices for all customers. Over the six-month timeframe, SunBug signed up 90 families representing 767kW of solar.

Aaron Simms, general manager of the SunBug Westfield Office, expressed his excitement, "We are ecstatic with the success of the program. We are especially grateful to the volunteer coaches of the Solarize program, the MassCEC, and most importantly the residents of Windsor, Cummington, Goshen and Worthington for their interest and enthusiasm for the program. We couldn't think of a better way to become part of our community in the western part of the state."

"The Solarize Mass program works because it leverages partnerships with communities across the Commonwealth to help facilitate the adoption of clean energy technologies," said MassCEC CEO Stephen Pike. "The effort and enthusiasm demonstrated by program volunteers and residents of the towns of Windsor, Cummington, Goshen and Worthington during this round were essential to this program's remarkable success."

Bill Adams, the volunteer Solar Coach for the town of Cummington, was equally thrilled with the success of the program. "When you combine the leadership of MassCEC and DOER with an award winning contractor like SunBug Solar and our impressive hilltown volunteers, it resulted in nothing less than a resounding success. Our residents embraced Solarize Mass WCGW knowing it was a clear win-win scenario for renewable energy and our carbon footprint. We couldn't have asked for more."

The 767kW of solar installed through this program will have a meaningful environmental impact. Every year, 767kW of solar on the grid will reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to driving over 760,000 miles in an average car. Over the 30-year life of the systems, they will avert the CO2 emissions equivalent to what nearly 9,000 acres of US forest can sequester in a year.

In addition to the environmental impact, these solar systems are going to be a significant financial boon for the families participating. In Massachusetts, residential solar PV systems have two compensation streams; savings from your electric bill, and compensation from the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits. Over the 30 year estimated lifespan of the PV systems, they are expected to generate over $9 Million for the families. What's more, this figure does not include ancillary financial benefits of solar, such as increased re-sale value of the home.

The Solarize campaign is based out of SunBug's new office in Westfield, Mass. In coordination with SunBug's headquarters in Arlington, the Westfield office is executing sales, operations, and installations for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties.

SunBug's expansion to the western part of the Commonwealth is an important step forward for a growing organization with strong Massachusetts roots. SunBug Westfield is the result of years of hard work and planning-both in terms of SunBug establishing itself as the highest rated solar installer in Eastern Massachusetts, and for the strategic timing and location of its new office and warehouse.

Founded in 2009, SunBug Solar is as a mission-driven organization-a company that seeks to simultaneously do right by the customer, the community, and the environment. Today, with 75 employees and over 1,000 solar installations throughout the Bay State, SunBug Solar is bringing its unparalleled reputation for quality and customer satisfaction westward. SunBug's commitment to service is recognized by independent industry watchers, including Angie's List, who has awarded SunBug their coveted Super Service Award every year since 2012, making SunBug the sole Massachusetts-based company to have won this award five years running.

More information, http://sunbugsolar.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ben Mayer
Ben.mayer[at]sunbugsolar.com
(617) 500-3935

SunBug Solar is proud to announce the completion of the sign-up phase of the Solarize Windsor, Cummington, Goshen and Worthington (Solarize Mass WCGW) initiative. Solarize Mass WCGW is part of a Solarize Mass, a partnership between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Green Communities Division of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) that encourages the adoption of small scale solar in Massachusetts communities.

SunBug Solar Wins SunPower 2014 ‘Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year’ Award

ARLINGTON, Mass., March 23, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- SunBug Solar, an Arlington- and Somerville-based solar installer and SunPower Commercial Dealer, has received the SunPower "Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year" award for its outstanding performance in 2014.

"SunBug is honored to receive the 2014 'Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year' award from SunPower for our success providing the world's highest efficiency solar systems and superior customer service to business owners," said Cheney Brand, CEO of SunBug. "Partnering with SunPower allows us to offer our customers industry-leading solar technology and significant electricity savings over the life of their systems."

The "Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year" award honors SunPower commercial dealers that demonstrate exceptional customer service, premier system design and installation practices, as well as expert solar knowledge and leadership in their region of North America. SunPower's best-in-class dealer program supports a network of more than 1,200 solar installers worldwide, with approximately 500 located in the United States.

"We congratulate SunBug for their extraordinary performance in 2014, delivering a level of quality and commitment to excellence exceeding our expectations," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, business units. "SunBug Solar is raising the bar by helping more customers achieve their energy goals with SunPower solar products and services, and we look forward to their continued success in 2015."

SunBug has been a consistent and engaged SunPower partner since 2011, and prides itself on successfully delivering SunPower's high efficiency, high reliability solar energy solutions to customers in the local market. SunBug's signature project in 2014 featuring SunPower solar technology was a 300-kilowatt rooftop system designed with 920 SunPower panels for the new flagship Boston Harley-Davidson dealership in Revere, Mass.

For more information on SunBug Solar, call 617-500-3938 or visit http://www.sunbugsolar.com/ .

About SunBug Solar:

SunBug Solar is a solar energy consulting and installation company based in Somerville and Arlington, Mass., offering turnkey solar solutions to commercial, residential and not-for profit clients. Our integrated approach incorporates site analysis, system design, incentive processing and system monitoring, allowing our team of professionals to anticipate questions and challenges while managing a project from start to finish. With six years in operation and over 500 projects deployed in Massachusetts, our experience and practical approach allows SunBug to always deliver on time, on schedule, and on budget.

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Twitter: @sunbugsolar

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