Pisgah Energy project to cover nearly all electrical needs for Vanguard Furniture
Pisgah Energy has finished a new installation for Vanguard Furniture at the furniture company’s manufacturing facility in Hillsville, Virginia.
Coming in at 848kWdc, Pisgah representatives say the project will offset about 95% of the building’s total electricity usage. The roof-mounted solar installation builds on Vanguard’s previous renewable energy efforts, in which the company invested in solar at its Conover, North Carolina location.
“Pisgah Energy has been an outstanding partner as we’ve expanded solar across our facilities,” says Andy Bray, president and CEO of Vanguard Furniture. “This project reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship and investing in solutions that strengthen our business for the long term.”
Vanguard’s Hillsville facility sports 1,425 SEG Solar panels at 595 W each, as well as five SolarEdge inverters, according to officials from Pisgah. The project is set to produce more than 1 GWh of renewable energy every year, for on-site consumption alone.
An environmental impact
Vanguard representatives say their company prides itself on crafting furniture that will last for generations. In turn, the company also aims to be stewards of the planet, hoping the new project in Virginia will have an environmental impact for the area.
Pisgah says the new system will offset 923 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, about enough to remove the air pollution caused by driving 2.3 million miles. That lack of emissions also equates to recycling 326 tons of waste on an annual basis, rather than sending it to a landfill.
“It’s almost unheard of for a manufacturing facility to offset most of its electricity usage with solar, and we’re proud to be a part of this milestone achievement for Vanguard Furniture,” says Evan Becka, president and senior project developer of Pisgah Energy. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s an honor to partner with a company so deeply committed to using renewable energy to produce its wares.”
The furniture company’s environmental commitment also includes recycling about 95% of its post-manufacturing waste, including wood, fabric, metal, paper, and packaging. The company wants to invest in how the furniture is made, officials say, in addition to the quality of the furniture itself.
