Solar Boston Initiative
Increasing solar energy in Boston to 25 MW by 2015
Boston Building Materials Co-Op
Becomes a Solar Energy Leader
Summary
Solar panels are sprouting up all over Boston. In July of 2008, the Boston
Building Materials Co-Op installed a series of solar panels on the roof of their
headquarters in Roxbury, MA. The 9.9 KW system cost a total of $72,060. To
offset the cost, the Co-Op received a rebate of $34,580 from the
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), which provides rebates for
solar installations throughout the state.
Since the Boston Building Materials Co-Op is based on green principles,
installing solar panels on their roof to reduce energy bills was not a difficult
decision for the staff to make; “It’s part of our DNA,” said Co-Op manager
Matthew St. Onge.
Company Background
The Co-Op’s goal is to provide clear, honest advice to all comers on
maintaining and improving homes. The Co-Op sells new housing materials,
including kitchen cabinetry and countertops, doors, windows, storm
products, weatherization materials, energy and water saving products, and
environmentally friendly materials. The Co-Op also teaches a number of
classes designed to help individuals sharpen their home improvement skills.
The Boston Building Materials Co-Op was
founded in 1978, and has roughly 1000 active
members. The Co-Op belongs to, and is
governed by, its members.
The Building Materials Resource Center, a nonprofit
spin-off of the Co-Op, is a building materials re-use
store that collects donations of new and used materials
and distributes them at low cost to the general public
with steep discounts available to lower income
households. The BMRC served over 1,350 homeowners
and non-profit customers last year. The Co-Op has
already gotten good press from its solar panels; it has
been featured on WGBH’s Greater Boston Today program as well as Boston.com’s green
energy blog.
Solar Panels
Solar panels collect solar energy and
convert it directly in