Announcement of 96kw Photo-Voltaic Electric System Installation

This is a joint press release of IDA International Inc., and The Solar Center.

New PV System to Reduce IDA-International’s Energy Consumption by Over 90% Percent and Annual Carbon Emissions by 43 Tons.

Rockaway, NJ (October 29, 2008) – The Solar Center announced today that it will be commencing installation of a 96 kilowatt solar system for IDA-International of Derby, CT, its largest solar installation to date in that state.

Company President, Shannon Whitworth Kayen, hailed the project as another big step in The Solar Center’s continuing expansion of its CT presence, especially in the commercial solar marketplace. “We’re pleased to be able to work with IDA-International and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund in advancing the cause of solar, reducing global warming gasses, furthering the goal of national energy independence, and supporting Connecticut’s congested southwestern electric grid, all while providing our customer with a project that will, ultimately, yield a substantial low-risk return on investment,” said Whitworth Kayen.

For its part, IDA, a manufacturer of facades and custom curtain-walls for commercial buildings, made a mission several years ago to bring an environmental awareness to its operations, with the vision toward becoming a green manufacturer. Many of the facades they construct are for buildings where the owner is seeking LEED status from the US Green Building Council. Thomas Harbinson, IDA's President, stated "we already use components that have a high recycled material content, and now our fabrication and assembly of those parts into a finished product will also be done in an environmentally sensitive manner." Harbinson adds, "Generating electricity from sunlight is a decision that took time to implement. Fortunately, when our 1800's era factory building was built, the designer took solar orientation into account for bringing daylight into the workplace. That orientation now works to our advantage with maximum potential for solar electrical generation. A standing seam metal roof as part of our building envelope both eases the attachment of the solar panels to our building, and reduces the heat gain on the building structure due to it's high emissivity." IDA hopes to illustrate that former under-utilized industrial buildings can be given new life with a green aspect such as solar electric generation. It's a business direction for other companies to take a serious look at.

The project was partially funded by a grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program, which provides qualified projects funding that can equal as much as 50% of a project’s cost. Combined with federal investment tax credits and accelerated depreciation, solar projects in CT can realize returns in the range of 15-20%.

The Solar Center, Inc. is one of the largest designers and installers of solar energy systems in the region, serving NY’s Hudson Valley, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. For more information contact them at 973-627-7730, or visit their web site at http://www.thesolarcenter.com/

IDA International Inc. is a turn-key operation for curtain-wall and other building facades. IDA serves the greater metropolitan area with engineering, fabrication and installation of construction elements that create a structure's building envelope. For more information, contact them at 203-736-9249, or visit their green manufacturing page at http://www.ida-intl.com/

Derby facility - new roof

The shop building had an asphalt shingle roof that had reached the end of it's 25yr life. We took considerable time deciding the proper direction for it's replacement that would fulfull our company's vision statement.

One alternative would have been to do a 2nd layer of asphalt shingles. This would have been inexpensive, but a questionable direction if a photo-voltaic array were pursued in the future for the building. Also, because we had waited, the 1st layer had started to curl in addition to the numerous patches we had to undertake.

We decided to replace it with a standing seam metal roof. This would allow easy attachment via clips with set screws along the seam, to attach a PV array without penetrating the building envelope.

We also choose a special reflective pigment to increase the reflectivity of the surface (emmisivity of radiation) and reduce the absorption of heat by the building. Such a roof will have a 40+yr life.



It is made from recycled content material and thus works toward a goal of being a Leed status building as defined by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). This choice of material and design reduces energy demands for the cooling load on the structure.

A coil of material is formed on site with special equipment that "rolls" the flat sheet into a profile, and with a CNC controlled hydraulic "flying" sheer, can cut the material as it continuously comes out the end. Think of it as "Playdough" in one end, and in a profile after coming through the form (although it isn't really an extruded process like playdough).

We were very satisfied with the Contractor, Tell them that IDA in Derby referred you:
Standing Seam Roofing Company LLC
West Haven, CT. 06516

Welcome to our company blog

Greetings, and welcome to the first entry on our company web log.

Our intent is to use this venue to convey items which both customers and the community may find of interest. Typically referred to as press releases, a blogging publication tool allows the concept to be expanded from those typical subject to include items a reader might have difficulty discovering about otherwise.

For example, we will discuss our upcoming solar array installation that is of interest to both customers and the community.

All the best - TomH