Feature Projects

Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. is a Cambridge-based non-profit organization whose mission is “to provide safe, affordable, decent, and sustainable housing” to mixed income communities that are “rich in ethnic and racial diversity.” SunBug installed solar PV systems at two properties to contribute both savings and income to the organization’s operating budget.

Project Highlights and Benefits:

• Estimated 1st year energy production: 37,400kWh
• 10-year solar production incentive income: $82,750
• Projected 30-year energy cost savings: $250,000
• Financed with an internal loan, with a 7-year payback of the upfront investment
• Reduces carbon emissions by 725 metric tons over 30 years

SunBug embraced the Corey Hill project, and was selected to design and install a 47-kilowatt rooftop solar PV system that reduces Corey Hill’s reliance on fossil fuel grid power, slashes their operating expenses, and generates an income stream for the homeowners association.

Project Highlights and Benefits:

10-year solar production incentive income for the HOA: $160,000
Projected 30-year common area energy cost savings: $300,000
More than $100,000 of tax credit and rebates distributed directly to unit owners
Financed with a low-interest rate bank loan whose payments are fully covered by common area electricity expense savings
Reduces carbon emissions by 1,100 metric tons over 30 years

SunBug and Tufts had a very short time frame to develop the project in the Solarize Medford program. SunBug provided the following:

Local private investor for project funding
Power purchase agreement development and terms negotiation
Rapid deployment requirement: Oct 2013 PPA to Dec 2013 build to April 2014 commissioning
Management for approvals: University Office of President, University insurance company, utility, University facilities department and Medford building department
Project compared favorably to Tufts other major solar project with SunEdison, 1 MW and 2 MW PPA in Grafton, MA

With the PPA model, Hillside locks in long-term electricity savings, and the project realizes all available federal tax credits.  In the future, Hillside will purchase the system from the civic-minded investor Chava Energy.

Not satisfied with merely installing photovoltaics, Hillside faculty worked with SunBug to integrate the array's real-world lessons about solar production and environmental impact into the curriculum. In addition to assisting with the development of course materials, SunBug designed a "mobile solar lab" that offers students the hands-on experience of measuring and testing photovoltaic solar cell performance.

Over the next 30 years, the array will offset 264 tons of CO₂,  equivalent to eliminating the emissions from 30,000 gallons of gasoline, or the carbon sequestered annually from 56 acres of pine forest.

48 Evergreen Solar 210-watt photovoltaic panels, one Fronius IG Plus inverter. Output of over 13,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Our system is rated at 27 KW and has 84 Sunpower panels installed.  It has been operating now for three years maintenance free.  It provides 85 % of the electricity requirements of our Parish House and Meeting House.  Our panels are leased from the Technology Credit Corp. and were installed by SunBug Solar.  SunBug Solar was also very helpful in getting our panels approved by the Framingham Historic District Commission.  We had no upfront costs and are saving $ 1,000 to $ 1,500 per year on our electric costs. With our very visible location on the Framingham Town green, we hope that our panels will set an example and inspire other churches and home owners to install renewable solar energy.