There’s no end in sight to ever-increasing energy costs. A solution could be to look up – at the sun. Plenty of free energy beaming down, right?
Mechanical Extremes’ Harold Wilkes decided to explore grabbing some of what is free to all of us. If he could reduce Mechanical Extremes business expenses, that’s one more cost that won’t be passed on to customers. As is his practice, he started with research and study. The sun may be free, but solar panels and related paraphernalia aren’t.
Satisfied with the potential, Harold installed 46 solar panels at Mechanical Extremes headquarters on US-12 near 127.
The power derived from the panels is tunneled to the converter. When electrical production exceeds the needs of the building, the excess is fed to the grid. That contribution can earn credits.
The installation took place in February. Now that it’s up and running, what are the results? Mechanical Extremes’ $600 per month electrical bill dropped to zero. That, of course, must be balanced against the start-up cost. The high number was softened by a 30% tax credit, and could be further reduced by a potential 40% federal business grant.
How long will it take to achieve a return on investment? “3.9 years”, says Harold. And that solar energy also charges his EV, Ford-150 Lightning, eliminating trips to the gas pump. “Tackling controllable costs means taking a notch out of inflation, which affects us all, including our customers.”
Thinking about solar for home or business? It will be a big topic going forward. Harold Wilkes intends to stay ahead of the curve. A future Mechanical Extremes story will tell how electrical is replacing natural gas heating. Stay tuned.
