Community Corner

Energy-Savvy Vet Clinic Uses Solar Panels for Electricity

One local doctor made the decision to reduce his electricity bill and the impact on the environment by having solar panels installed on the roof of the Medfield Veterinary Clinic.

When Dr. Richard Crowell saw the amount of electricity the Medfield Veterinary Clinic used a month, he decided to take action. Making use of solar energy technology, Crowell has reduced his electric bill and the building’s carbon footprint when he had solar panels installed. 

“We have three air conditioning units and more than a dozen computers, and our buildings gets quite a bit of sun,” Crowell said. “I called a variety of different businesses and not one person didn’t recommend using solar panels.”

Crowell said the process began in 2011 when the solar panels were purchased. Because of the increasingly high demand for solar panels, they weren’t installed at the Medfield Veterinary Clinic until October of 2012. With the sun beating down in the hot summer months, Crowell said he’s already seen a return on his investment.

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“The solar panels will net me $8,000-$9,000 in savings,” he said. Crowell noted several Massachusetts businesses that were using solar panels, including a hockey rink in Falmouth. The REI sporting goods store in Framingham has found a different place for its solar panels—the top of carports.

For the solar panels on the top of the Medfield Veterinary Clinic, maintenance will cost about $1,000 a year. Crowell said in comparison to the savings, the solar panels aren’t a costly hassle to maintain.

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“It’s a positive thing for the environment,” Crowell said.

A solar panel, or a photovoltaic panel is comprised of photovoltaic cells. The light collected in the cells is converted to electricity. Crowell said the basement of the clinic has these converters, which send the electricity to the power lines. From there, the electricity is transferred to NStar.

“We’re not off the grid,” Crowell explained. The energy the solar panels give back to NStar offsets the amount of electricity used at the clinic, making solar panels both cost efficient and a source of renewable energy.

Crowell said for any business interested in solar panels, it’s a sound investment. “If they have space and the right set up, they should do it,” he said. “Once April hit, there was a big difference in my bill. I would definitely do it again.”


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