Factory Pipe, a manufacturer of high-performance exhaust systems, recently installed the largest rooftop solar power system in Mendocino County on the roof of its Ukiah, CA, headquarters.
The solar was just the beginning. In collaboration with General Electric’s Current, the company is offsetting 75% of its energy use through Current’s rooftop solar offering and saving close to 60% in lighting-related energy use with an LED lighting retrofit in its manufacturing warehouse.
The solar solution will produce about 600 kilowatts of energy annually and it is expected to save Factory Pipe approximately $100,000 in energy costs this year and $2.3 million over the 25-year lifespan of the solution.
“In today's global economy we need all aspects of our company to be competitive and GE's solutions through Current made our energy costs competitive and sustainable,” says Ross Liberty, President, Factory Pipe. “Solar provides a predictable and competitive energy cost for the next 25 years, and we’ve also installed LEDs that will save us close to 60 percent in lighting-related costs over the technology we’ve traditionally used.”
High-bay LEDs installed in portions of the building’s manufacturing warehouse replace fluorescent fixtures, offering additional energy savings and a positive environmental payback. Factory Pipe will also be able to take advantage of a 30% federal incentive tax credit and MACRS depreciation. The system will be interconnected utilizing PG&E’s net energy metering program, GE said.