Dinwiddie Nursing Center on Solar power

ASHEVILLE, US: Dinwiddie Nursing & Rehabilitation Center of Petersburg, VA recently became the first healthcare facility in the state of Virginia to embrace clean energy technology with their addition of a solar energy system. Managed by Commonwealth Care of Roanoke, this 60-bed skilled nursing facility opened its doors just two years ago.

Through the NoCapEx program, Commonwealth Care was able to partner with SolTherm to install a solar hot water system with no upfront investment. Dinwiddie can expect to immediately reduce its hot water energy costs by 20 per cent adding up to $149,000 over the life of the 15-year agreement. SolTherm makes this program work by monetizing tax credits generated by the solar energy systems and packaging them for tax credit investors, adds a press release.

“We were thrilled to learn about SolTherm and have the opportunity to participate in their NoCapEx program,” said David Tucker, Commonwealth Care Chief Operating Officer. “This allowed the project to fall within our budget and gives us the opportunity to use the savings to continue to provide the best care for our patients.”

The installation of the 32 panels at the facility took just three weeks and the system went live on June 14th. Facility Environmental Services Director Terry Sutherland said, “I am very happy with the decision we made to work with SolTherm Energy. Every issue they looked at was taken care of, and their addition to our facility fit right into the natural beauty of the place.”

According to SolTherm’s chief strategy officer, Scott Clark, the decision that Commonweath Care made to work with SolTherm under their NoCapEx program will be very beneficial to the company. “Commonwealth Care made this energy-efficient action to maintain competitiveness and demonstrate their responsibility to the health of their patients, their facilities and their company,” said Clark.