They both have wireless technology.Both use GPS in new, innovative ways.Now Apple’s iPhone and the Vermont-made AllSun Tracker have something else in common with the installation of a new solar tracker farm.
Small Dog Electronics, one of the largest Apple suppliers in the United States, has installed ten AllSun Trackers at their company headquarters.
The42kW installation outside the company’s Waitsfield office will make 58,800 kWh per year. This will provide the power needed to run their retail store in South Burlington as well as half of the power for the company’s Waitsfield headquarters.The new locally manufactured solar trackers are the latest in a series of investments made by Small Dog Electronics toward a goal of achieving net zero usage of non-renewable energy.
Small Dog’s solar farm includes tensolar trackersmanufactured by AllEarth Renewables of Williston, whichuse innovative GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun throughout the day to boost solar energy production by up to 45 percent over roof-top installations.The ground-mounted solar systems are designed for homes, businesses, non-profits, and commercial-scale installations.
A single 4.2 kW solar tracker will produce enough to power the majority of an average home.
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin was on hand for a cord cutting ceremony and was joined by Hapy Mayer, COO and CFO of Small Dog Electronics, Andrew Savage ofAllEarth Renewables, Nik Ponzio of Building Energy, and Richard Travers, CEO of Freeaire Corporation.
An iPhone was recently used by Governor Shumlin to officially commission thelargest solar tracker farmof its kind in North America, a 2.2 MW farm that consisted of 382 AllSun Trackers.
‘We chose to use solar electricity because, of all the power sources, it is by far the cleanest and most neutral,’ saysDon Mayer, CEO at Small Dog Electronics.‘This solar farm will greatly help us reduce our carbon footprint, which is an integral part of our mission at Small Dog.’
‘It’s great to see an innovative, successful socially responsible company like Small Dog adopting solar,’ saidDavid Blittersdorf, CEO of AllEarth Renewables.‘With their wireless and GPS technologies, our solar trackers feel a perfect fit for this great company, which is so immersed in the cutting-edge innovations Apple gives the public every day.’
Building Energy, a locally-owned contracting company with 32 full-time employees, is the regional installer of the AllSun Tracker.
‘We are very excited to have partnered with AllEarth Renewables to offer installations of their AllSun trackers. There are no other trackers that can rival the sophistication of these units,’ saidNik Ponzio, solar engineer and senior manager at Building Energy.
All Earth Renewables. 2.17.2012