SES INSTALLS NYC'S LARGEST PRIVATE SOLAR SYSTEM
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 5:29PM
DAVIS & WARSHOW FLIPS THE SWITCH ON NEW YORK CITY’S
LARGEST PRIVATE SOLAR POWER INSTALLATION
(MASPETH, NY— January, 2011) — Davis & Warshow, an 85-year-old family-owned business that is the region’s premier dealer of kitchen and bath fittings, has powered up New York City’s largest private-sector solar installation at its Queens headquarters. The initiative crowns the company’s Practically Green program, a pragmatic, small steps approach to going green that was inaugurated two years ago.
The installation, which encompasses 1,038 panels affixed to the roofs of three buildings within the company’s 250,000-square-foot complex on Maspeth Creek, will produce in excess of 270,000 kWh of clean energy annually, enough to satisfy more than a third of the facility’s usage. The energy output potential of this system makes it the largest private-sector installation in New York City, according to Sustainable CUNY, the lead implementer of the New York City Solar America Cities Partnership, a U.S. Department of Energy Program. Other benefits of the PV system include the elimination of more than 480,000 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution, more than 1,650 pounds of sulfur dioxide pollution, and 568 pounds of nitrous oxide annually.
The solar panels top buildings that house corporate offices and a central warehouse. It is a site that is surrounded by low-rise neighbors with substantial southern sunlight exposure, making it ideal for an installation of this kind.
To finance the project, D&W obtained Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a one-time Treasury grant and annual, four-year property tax abatements. Davis & Warshow will recoup its investment in the photovoltaic system in 3 years, which features panels installed by Solar Energy Systems, LLC (SES). SES is based in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.
“The challenge, and long-term goal of becoming carbon-neutral may seem insurmountable,” said David Finkel, the company President “but gradual steps, as we’ve undertaken, do add up. I think our actions prove that smaller companies can make a big impact on the environment, whether they encourage employees to carpool, install low flow fixtures in their restrooms, or retrofit their facilities so that heating, cooling, lighting and all operations are more energy efficient. We’re proud to serve as a model and can confirm that going green in a practical manner is a surprisingly painless process.”
David Buckner, President of SES, says, "Davis & Warshow has taken a leading stance in NYC with its solar PV installation by generating clean on-site power. D&W is also supporting the surrounding area's utility grid by exporting excess energy during those times when its solar production is greater than its electricity consumption." Buckner adds, "Financially, the project is also a huge winner with an extremely strong return on investment. As the designer and builder, SES is extremely proud to be a part of this project right here in our backyard."
About Davis & Warshow
Davis & Warshow, New York City’s premier kitchen and bath distributor, has been serving New York City’s wholesale and retail plumbing needs for more than 85 years. With 7 showrooms and 8 wholesale locations and nearly 300 employees in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, the company’s unparalleled selection and unmatched service have earned national accolades, including Supply House Times “Wholesaler of the Year” in 1988 and 2003, and “Showroom of the Year” in 2010. Davis & Warshow is 100 percent owned by its employees. For more information, visit www.dwny.com.
