We Are a solar Powered Dental Practice!
Winnisquam Dental Goes Green with Solar Panels
WINNISQUAM, NH, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 -- If you traveled Route 3 through Winnisquam, NH on Friday, you may have noticed a flurry of activity on the rooftop and grounds of Winnisquam Dental, a family dental practice located at 944 Laconia Road (Route 3). Winnisquam Dental installed 49 solar panels on the practice roof, and a large pivoting ground transformer, launching their clean energy initiative.
“We'll be able to produce about 80% of our electricity which is huge because, like most medical practices, we use a tremendous amount to power equipment and servers,” said Kris Blackwelder, co-owner of Winnisquam Dental, “Adhering to infection control standards takes a lot of waste, and I’m excited that this endeavor will offset our carbon footprint significantly!”
The solar energy is collected through two main parts: “AllEarth Solar Tracker” ground mount tracking system and 49 “Q Cells” solar panels. The “AllEarth Solar Tracker,” which is designed, tested and engineered in Vermont, pivots on a hydraulic base to follow the sun’s path throughout the day, collecting 45% more energy than fixed solar panels. The “Q Cells” solar panels, installed on the roof of Winnisquam Dental, boast an efficiency rate of up to 18.6%, weigh approximately 41 pounds each, and are certified for high snow and wind loads.
The complete system, installed by Granite State Solar, will produce an estimated 18,877 kWh annually for Winnisquam Dental. The 2016 annual usage for Winnisquam Dental was 23,301 kWh, thus offsetting the practice’s electrical consumption by 81% annually.
“As a community member and business owner in the Lakes Region, we are mindful of our carbon footprint,” said Derek Blackwelder, co-owner of Winnisquam Dental, “this is something we have been thinking about for a while, and we hope that other businesses or home owners who have been thinking about it, will see our project, hear about what we’re doing, and be inspired to take this step with us.”
In addition to “going green,” the solar panel system installed on Winnisquam Dental provides a worthy cost savings after initial installation. As energy needs increase and reserves of fossil fuels shrink, the result is a dramatic increase in electricity prices. “From a financial perspective, this initiative will provide us with a positive return on our investment,” said Michael Grenier, Practice Manager of Winnisquam Dental, “The annualized rate of return for our system is 10.18%. So this is definitely a win for us, our patients, and the environment.”
WINNISQUAM, NH, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 -- If you traveled Route 3 through Winnisquam, NH on Friday, you may have noticed a flurry of activity on the rooftop and grounds of Winnisquam Dental, a family dental practice located at 944 Laconia Road (Route 3). Winnisquam Dental installed 49 solar panels on the practice roof, and a large pivoting ground transformer, launching their clean energy initiative.
“We'll be able to produce about 80% of our electricity which is huge because, like most medical practices, we use a tremendous amount to power equipment and servers,” said Kris Blackwelder, co-owner of Winnisquam Dental, “Adhering to infection control standards takes a lot of waste, and I’m excited that this endeavor will offset our carbon footprint significantly!”
The solar energy is collected through two main parts: “AllEarth Solar Tracker” ground mount tracking system and 49 “Q Cells” solar panels. The “AllEarth Solar Tracker,” which is designed, tested and engineered in Vermont, pivots on a hydraulic base to follow the sun’s path throughout the day, collecting 45% more energy than fixed solar panels. The “Q Cells” solar panels, installed on the roof of Winnisquam Dental, boast an efficiency rate of up to 18.6%, weigh approximately 41 pounds each, and are certified for high snow and wind loads.
The complete system, installed by Granite State Solar, will produce an estimated 18,877 kWh annually for Winnisquam Dental. The 2016 annual usage for Winnisquam Dental was 23,301 kWh, thus offsetting the practice’s electrical consumption by 81% annually.
“As a community member and business owner in the Lakes Region, we are mindful of our carbon footprint,” said Derek Blackwelder, co-owner of Winnisquam Dental, “this is something we have been thinking about for a while, and we hope that other businesses or home owners who have been thinking about it, will see our project, hear about what we’re doing, and be inspired to take this step with us.”
In addition to “going green,” the solar panel system installed on Winnisquam Dental provides a worthy cost savings after initial installation. As energy needs increase and reserves of fossil fuels shrink, the result is a dramatic increase in electricity prices. “From a financial perspective, this initiative will provide us with a positive return on our investment,” said Michael Grenier, Practice Manager of Winnisquam Dental, “The annualized rate of return for our system is 10.18%. So this is definitely a win for us, our patients, and the environment.”
