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WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — No time is better than now to invest in solar and other energy efficiency items, said John Heindel, chairman of the management committee of Westborough's GeoGenix.
Founded in New Jersey, GeoGenix came to Westborough in July on the heels of unprecedented government and local interest in the technology. About 80 percent of its business is with commercial energy users.
"Every community is doing their own thing and every market is different," Heindel said. "The most costly aspect of this is the selling process. Sometimes we'll bring 10 or 20 homeowners together and make a community pitch."
Heindel discussed energy efficiency at an event at the Double Tree Hotel sponsored by GeoGenix. Speakers included Jason Stout of SunPower, Dan Gould, president of Synergy, and Rich Costello, president of Acela Energy Group.
From low-energy fluorescent lights to efficient motors in everyday items to more intelligent refitting of spaces in terms of lighting and electric use, the speakers touched on ways to cut, in certain formats, up to 75 percent of costs.
"If you're going to retrofit, this is your chance to do it right," Gould said.
Massachusetts, with the sixth-highest electricity costs in the nation, has become a hotbed for efficiency projects, with help from the state, Costello said, adding that about $860 million is available in rebates and incentives for using efficient technology, in addition to green solar energy grants.
"The time for energy efficiency, renewable and solar can't get much better than it is now," Costello said.
With the recent stir in Westborough over solar panels, Heindel said, one of the main tasks for his company is educating towns and town governments about the technology.
"Any time you touch something new with any town anywhere in the world, you need to put a long timeline on it," Heindel said. "We really put our opportunities through stringent [standards]. We try to put projects on the back of the homes, and if it has to be on the front, we have long talks with the folks about that issue."
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