Solar Nation was selected after an impressive display of homework in their first meeting with Avidan, he says. “They did not leave any stone unturned, coming in with all of the facts and figures,” Avidan says. Solar World’s panels were selected because of the quality, and the fact that they were manufactured in the United States. “We wanted to buy products made in the US--not just the panels but all possible components,” Avidan says.

The panels cover 90% of the building’s roof, which had to be retrofitted to accommodate the construction. Skylights were eliminated and the sprinkler system upgraded to maximize the amount of panels that could be installed, Avidan says. “We went the extra mile, spending more money,” he notes. The project received financing by Investors Savings Bank, SRECs and Avidan equity.

The installation will create an estimated energy savings of $200,000 per year, with a payback period of seven years. The building’s tenants will receive a portion of their electricity under a Power Purchase Agreement arrangement. Avidan Management will purchase the solar-generated electric output from Avidan Energy Solutions, then sell the power to its tenants at a below market cost. In addition to the solar panel installation, Avidan also retrofitted the building’s lighting to improve its energy efficiency, and also improved insulation.

The state’s largest ground solar array, a 4.1-megawatt installation in Titusville, came on line in September.