Metzgers Printing + Mailing in Toledo is installing a rooftop photovoltaic solar array in partnership with Solscient Energy of Toledo.

The 9,500-square-foot solar array is one of the largest rooftop solar installations by an Ohio-based privately held company, according to Joe Metzger, president of the commercial printing company.

“Most large solar installations are at public institutions, but to be one of the largest solar installations by a privately held company in Ohio is something our team and customers can be proud of,” Metzger said in a prepared statement. “It’s another important step in our long-term plan to expand our green printer status.”

Metzgers was the first printer in Northwest Ohio to receive certification from the Forest Stewardship Council for its company-wide recycling efforts, he said.

The solar installation includes 4,095 square feet of panels on the main printing plant on Arco Drive and another 5,444 square feet on the adjacent mailing and fulfillment center.

From left, Matt Longthorne and Granger Souder of Solscient Energy show a solar panel to Tom and Joe Metzger.

The total solar array is capable of producing up to 125,580 watts at any time during peak conditions and up to 144,417 kilowatt-hours in a 12-month period, according to a press release.

“This new solar array will be a showcase for all who are interested in solar energy for their business,” said Granger Souder, co-founder of Solscient Energy with partner Matt Longthorne.

Solscient Energy provided the design, development and installation of the solar array system for Metzgers. The fully integrated solar energy finance and development firm is a tenant at the Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator on the University of Toledo campus.

The solar project is being installed by local contractor from Nordman Roofing and Romanoff Electric, both of Toledo. Both solar arrays are expected to be operational by Dec. 1, Metzger said.

The rooftop solar installation is expected to produce enough energy from the solar panels to generate about 13 percent of the firm’s annual power usage, which costs about  $25,000 per month, he said.

The balance of the power generated when Metzgers is not using it will be returned to the grid and used by First Energy, which pays them the same amount for the electricity that commercial customers pay, Souder said.

Solscient is partnering with commercial property owners for solar installations with no upfront investment or cost, almost immediate energy savings, no maintenance or operational obligations, and long-term protection against rising energy costs, Souder said.

Solscient provides turn-key development of solar applications for commercial property owners. The custom- designed systems include photovoltaic panels, inverters, combiner boxes, meters, electrical systems, racking and related balance of systems equipment.

“We design and engineer the system to accommodate the existing roofing material and structural configuration like we did for the 1975 rooftop at Metzgers. Our systems are designed for grid-connected, distributed generation applications at the location where the electricity will be consumed,” Souder said.

“They put the whole project together for us,” Metzger said. “Installing solar panels helps limit our company’s impact on the environment.”

The solar energy generated is equal to annual environmental equivalents of 104 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 241 barrels of imported oil, 11,666 gallons of gasoline and 237,986 miles driven in a passenger car, based on estimates by the clean energy resource calculator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Metzgers employs 85 full-time and 35 part-time team members.

Tags: Business, Metzgers Printing, Solar energy

This entry was posted on Friday, November 19th, 2010 at 11:55 pm and is filed under Family Business, Toledo Business Link.
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