South Mountain Company - What We Do - Renewable Energy and Conservation

RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY CONSERVATION and PRODUCT SALES

For 30 years we have provided solar, wind, and energy conservation services to our design / build clients. Now, we're offering these same services to all Vineyard homes, businesses, and institutions. This is a new venture for us as of 2007. Co-owner Phil Forest is the manager of this endeavor and Rob Meyers handles sales.

We are providing planning, design, installation, and service for small wind, solar electric, and solar domestic hot water. In addition, we have the sales and service of Loewen windows and doors (a line of high performance windows and doors produced in Canada).

Renewable energy has tremendous potential for growth on the island. As a company, we think this is one of the most important things we can do and hope to expand these services gradually, over time.

Installing photovoltaics

As we begin, we're finding the demand is great. We all seem to be awakening, together, to the understanding that, here in the 21st century, we must deploy conservation and renewable energy strategies in many ways, and as rapidly, as we can.

Because load reduction (energy conservation) is the "low hanging fruit" of decreasing dependence on fossil fuels (and the least expensive way to that end), this is how we're conducting our service:

• When a potential client enquires, we propose that, for an $800 fee, we will:
--- Meet with them to determine needs and desires;
--- Conduct an energy audit and renewable energy assessment;
--- Produce a report with recommended energy conservation improvements;
--- Produce a preliminary concept design for optimal use of solar and/or wind.
• Both reports will have rough costs associated with the recommendations.
• At that point, the clients can decide whether to proceed, and with what.
• If the decision is made to proceed, we will:
--- Design and implement the system(s);
--- Help our clients obtain all available rebates and tax credits;
--- Maintain the system(s) as long as our clients wish.

High School wind turbine

Our intention is to provide top-notch design and installation of the very best products available to us. Currently we represent the following:
• Abundant Renewable Energy (ARE) wind turbines. We feel that this small company in Oregon is producing the next generation of small wind turbines.
• Evergreen Solar and SunPower Corp. photovoltaic (solar electric) equipment.
• ZomeWorks pv trackers and mounts
• EnerWorks solar domestic hot water systems
In addition, SolarWrights and Gro-Solar are highly-trained consultants and equipment suppliers we've worked with on many of our projects to date.

Also, as mentioned, we provide complete sales and service of Loewen Windows and Doors to island architects, builders, and homeowners.

We are, of course, in keeping with our stay-local policy, providing these services only on the Vineyard.

There are a variety of renewable energy tax credits, rebate programs, and incentives available. Legislative changes are also being proposed and voted on regularly. You can find out more information on current incentives and regulations by visiting DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency).

Because we believe in and support the efforts of the non-profit Vineyard Energy Project (VEP) to raise awareness and reduce island-wide dependence on fossil fuels, we contribute 10% of our Renewable Energy profits to VEP. In addition, we encourage all of our clients to contribute as well.