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V O L . X X I I N O. X I V J U N E 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 22 used for office space. e company also uses heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water. Kahn has seen the bundled bill drop from $900 to $200. "at was encouraging," says Kahn. "It's nice to have essentially no electric bill." Caravan Beads further reduced its energy footprint with LED lights and timers and motion sensors on the lights Developments like these illustrate the growing popularity not only of solar energy, but also technologies such as heat pumps and LED lighting that can save businesses money while reducing their carbon footprint. Costs drive energy decisions Kahn's is a common sentiment among business owners who are installing alternative energy systems, usually tak- ing a comprehensive look at the variety of measures they can take to reduce costs and their carbon footprint. At ReVision, marketing manager Jennifer Hatch says solar energy con- tinues to grow in popularity as panel prices come down, in combination with a 30% federal tax credit available for businesses and continued develop- ments in other technologies, such as the growing efficiency of heat pumps. "When we first opened in 2003, solar electricity was 20% of our business," says Hatch. "Now it's 80% or more of our business. e low cost of solar panels is driving the solar electric market." Initial capital investment has dropped 75% over the past decade, Hatch says, while the payback period has fallen from 20 years to nine years. Priced per watt, the cost of solar panels has dropped from $8 per watt in 2007 to $3 today, making Maine one of the least expensive states in the nation for solar energy. "at's a big difference when you're talking about 10,000 watts or more," Hatch says. e federal credit was set to be reduced from 30% to 10% in January 2017, but has been extended by five years. Some solar systems are eligible for five-year accelerated depreciation if claimed as a business expense. And the Maine office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture expanded eligibility for its Renewable Energy for America Program, which offers grants for up to 25% of the cost of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects. Federal programs are especially important since, currently, there are no state-level incentives in Maine for commercial solar projects. Still, solar users and provid- ers are warily eyeing a review of the net-metering system, brought to the Maine Public Utilities Commission. While Maine does not have the mas- sive solar installations seen in a northern New England counterpart, Vermont, installations have, in many cases, been initiated by small businesses. In Portland, Coffee By Design added solar panels at its Washington Avenue building in 2012, saving about $2,000 a year on electricity costs, according to ReVision Energy. Aikido of Maine put 30 panels on its roof in June 2013, reducing its electric bill from $150 to $20 for 10 months of the year. At Heliotropic Technologies in Boothbay Harbor, an installation includes a south-facing "solar wall," a passive air-heating system with exterior metal cladding and internal collector system that radiates solar heat inward. Back in Portland, Bayside Bowl plans to add 422 panels, each 265 watts, for a 111 kW system. Businesses are generally combining solar installations with other energy initiatives, says Hatch. "Lighting upgrades are easy," she says. "And EfficiencyMaine offers rebates of up to $1,000 to businesses for heat pumps, so that's a great way to invest. And we're also seeing people gravitate toward electric vehicles. ey're not as prevalent in Maine as in other parts Barry Kahn, co-owner of Caravan Beads, on the roof of the business, which is on Forest Avenue in Portland. Kahn recently installed solar panels, which in concert with other energy-saving measures, have cut the business' utillity bills. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Cutting energy bills Businesses look for innovative ways to save on costs B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r F O C U S » C O N T I N U E D F R O M C O V E R

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