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February 8, 2010
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Releases and Publications
Michael Shilale Architects, (MSA) fired up their own
green power plant Monday, rated at 4.05 kilowatts.
This photovoltaic array will generate approximately
30% of the annual electricity used by this Rockland
County based architectural firm.
The system is made up of 18 panels manufactured by
Sun Power. Each panel is rated at 225 watts, one of
the highest ratings in the industry. The system was
built by ISI Solar, a well known solar installation
company that is headquartered only two doors down
Third Street from MSA’s headquarters. James
Albert, the president of ISI Solar says, "it has
made the installation a bit easier than most, and
we’re excited with the results.”
The array is part of MSA’s quest for LEED
certification. Under the LEED for Existing Buildings
program up to half a dozen points can be achieved by
generating green power on the rooftop. The
best part of the deal is that the solar array will
pay for itself in under 8 years. This is made
possible by a NYSERDA grant, a 30% federal tax
credit and an accelerated depreciation expense.
MSA has been working with several clients, helping
implement energy savings measures that can totally
fund needed capital improvements. The model is
called an Energy Saving Performance Contract.
Provident Banks’ first NYSERDA “Energy Smart
Loan," financed the solar installation, building envelope
upgrades including a new roof and high performance
windows, a super high efficiency HVAC system,
new lighting and lighting controls including daylight
harvesting, instantaneous water heaters, and a
rainwater harvesting system.
These capital improvements will save enough energy
to pay for themselves in approximately 15 years.
This is the average payback for the entire project.
Lighting and controls have quicker paybacks, while
roofing and window projects have somewhat longer
ones. Fifteen years is a longer payback than most
businesses are comfortable with, however the low
cost financing makes most of these projects cost
neutral.
Read more about Energy Saving Performance Contracts
here.
Michael Shilale Architects, LLP
(MSA), an eight person architectural engineering
firm founded in 1991, is committed to protecting and
preserving the environment through their design
work. We help our clients solve their building
problems, protect their assets and investments,
build under budget, and realize their vision. MSA
serves a municipal, commercial, residential and
educational client base, including Rockland, Orange,
Sullivan, Ulster and Nassau counties, in New York,
as well as Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex
Counties in New Jersey. For more information, please
call 845-708-9200, or visit their website at,
www.shilale.com
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