Vermont Business Magazine Rutland’s oldest ‘sleep shop,’ Vermont Bedrooms, has joined the city’s rooftop revolution by going solar. Business owners Bill and Rob Beanland worked with SunCommon of Waterbury to install a 73-panel solar array on the roof of their 32-year-old business. Vermont Bedrooms chose solar as a means to cut costs and strengthen their business by generating clean energy on-site.
“Going solar is a conversation starter with our customers,” said Bill Beanland, co-owner of Vermont Bedrooms. “Vermonters that are excited or curious about solar will be more likely to walk into our business. Our rooftop array is very visible and shows our commitment to producing our own local, clean energy. That sort of exposure is tremendous.”
Solar is a selling point. The city of Rutland has fully embraced solar as a driver for innovation, community engagement and sustainable growth. According to The Solar Foundation’s Vermont Solar Jobs Census: “Green Mountain Power’s partnership with the City of Rutland has led to the city’s self-designation as the Solar Capital of New England and currently boasts the most installed capacity in a single city within the six-state census region.”
"As the Solar Capital of New England, Rutland continues to shine, as more and more businesses like Vermont Bedrooms innovate for the future by going solar,” said Steve Costello, board member of Rutland Chamber of Commerce, Rutland Economic Development Corp. and GMP vice president. “Rutland is committed to a new energy future, one that leverages the latest technologies to create a cleaner, more resilient and cost-effective energy system that drives lasting economic development."
SunCommon’s mission is to repower Vermont with clean energy by tearing down the barriers to renewable energy. By making solar easy and affordable, SunCommon has built a market-driven solution to climate change.
“SunCommon is focused on solving tomorrow’s energy issues and that mission fosters innovation. We’ve installed thousands of small solar installations across Vermont, more than any other Vermont company. Now we want to use that expertise to allow more local businesses to go solar. We’re proud to help Vermont businesses like Vermont Bedrooms find their clean energy future,” said Tom Berry, SunCommon’s VP of Marketing.
“Solar just makes sense,” said Beanland. “This will save me money in the long run and that makes me a stronger local, family business.”
About SunCommon:
As Vermont’s largest solar business, SunCommon believes that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and safer world -- and clean energy is where it starts. Energy from the sun can power our lives, heat our homes and fuel our cars. Our mission is to tear down the barriers to renewable energy. We do that by making it easy and affordable for all Vermonters to go solar. SunCommon was chartered as one of Vermont's pioneering Benefit Corporations and is a Certified BCorp based on a rigorous third party assessment of our commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. The business is headquartered in Waterbury where most of our 65 workers operate out of Vermont’s largest net-positive office building, which produces more energy than it uses. In our first three years, SunCommon earned distinction as one of Vermont’s Best Places to Work, by the US EPA with an Environmental Merit Award and with a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. SunCommon’s values-led business memberships include Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Social Venture Network and Renewable Energy Vermont. For more information, go to www.suncommon.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @suncommon.
About Vermont Bedrooms:
Vermont Bedrooms was originally established as a small waterbed specialty store in 1984. Vermont Bedrooms expanded to a full line bedding store in 1989 after rebuilding as a result of a devastating fire that completely destroyed the original store in January of 1988. Like a Phoenix rising from the literal ashes, Vermont Bedrooms has grown to become the largest bedding retailer in central Vermont. In 1996 Vermont Bedrooms was awarded the Prestigious Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award, an annual award presented by the US Chamber of Commerce, Mass Mutual Insurance Co. and Nation’s Business magazine to small businesses that demonstrate effective use of resources to overcome adversity and emerge stronger. The store was even featured in the nationally syndicated TV news program, “First Business” as a result. Still growing and going strong, Vermont Bedrooms continues to serve Vermont, Upstate New York, New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts and now the on-line world, with quality, selection, service and price for all things for the bedroom.
Source: SunCommon 11.28.2016