Prudent Living Wins Bid to Build Largest Private Solar Power Project in Vermont April 27, 2012 WINDSOR, VT

Prudent Living, an Upper Valley company offering services, strategies, products and a community that encourage a prudent way of life, including alternative energy solutions, recently won the bid to install the largest private solar power system in Vermont. The $1.3 million photovoltaic project for Black River Produce of N. Springfield, a wholesaler to stores and farmers’ markets of fresh, organic and specialty produce and products for more than 30 years, will use 1600 240-watt solar panels to cover 62,300 square feet of roof, generating enough power to save as much as 50% of Black River’s annual utility bill.

“This is a very exciting project for us,” said Prudent Living Vice-President Tim Biebel. “We’re delighted by the environmental leadership Black River Produce is showing and proud to be a part of that good stewardship. Beyond being the largest privately-built photovoltaic system in Vermont, what’s really rewarding about this project is that Black River Produce brings people high quality, delicious, garden-fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty products. And now they’re going to do it in a way that is good for the planet that grows those fruits and vegetables, with clean energy from the sun.”

With this installation, Black River Produce will be protected from rising electricity costs and, more importantly, reduce their carbon footprint. “One disadvantage of our business is that we’re energy hogs, with a need for reliable refrigeration and many diesel delivery trucks,” said Mark Curran, Partner, Black River Produce. “Because of our big carbon footprint, we’d been looking for a better way to use energy for years but the payback was too long, as much as 20 to 30 years. But, this year, with good pricing, tax credits and Prudent Living’s innovative micro-inverter system which keeps one failing solar panel from taking down the whole system, it was much more feasible.” The impending solar project is just one of many renewable energy solutions Black River has adopted. “The cheapest watt is the watt you don’t use,” Curran explained. “We redid our lighting to make it more efficient. Our refrigeration system is computer-controlled . We power our fleet of trucks with vegetable oil from our restaurants converted to bio-diesel. And now, we’re investing in ourselves and our environment with solar power. Our goal is to get as much local food on the plate as possible. More than 22% of our sales were locally-raised products from more than 120 Vermont farms. Being socially responsible fits our philosophy. It’s a win-win for everybody.” For more information, visit www.blackriverproduce.com.

Prudent Living is an Upper Valley company offering services, strategies, products and a community that encourage a prudent way of life. Started in 2009 by Biebel Builders, quality home and commercial builders in Windsor, Vermont since 1976, Prudent Living provides customers with energy-efficient architectural design; green strategies for homebuilding and renovation; energy audits; and renewable alternatives such as solar, wind and geothermal. More than just builders of houses, Prudent Living helps people build an intentional life –whether it’s by carefully managing natural resources, spending more wisely by investing in a home energy audit and energy efficient upgrades, or by safeguarding the health of the planet and contributing positively to the environment. The Prudent Living community relies on the dynamic web site, informative blogs and free quarterly Prudent Living e-Magazine for practical suggestions for daily life. The company will soon launch Prudent Living Market, an e-commerce site of prudent products.

CONTACT:
Tim Biebel, Vice-President Prudent Living 866.924.3235 tim@prudentliving.com