Solar Panel Installation Supports Danbury Manufacturing Facility's Green Energy Initiative

Preferred Utilities Manufacturing, a leading provider of custom-engineered boiler solutions that reduce emissions and increase efficiency, has expanded its commitment to sustainability with the completion of a 209 kW solar panel installation at its Danbury headquarters facility.

The solar panels generate approximately 70 percent of the building's usage and support the city of Danbury's grid when the plant is not in operation.  The solar panel implementation represents the next step in Preferred's deployment of green energy solutions.

In 2020, the company began utilizing Bio-Residual Oil to heat their 50,000 square-foot facility. Bio-Residual Oil (or BRO) is a fuel that is made from an array of unexpected biological materials such as agricultural waste, animal fats, and even recycled cooking oil. With Preferred's expertise in boiler technology, they were able to convert their entire heating system to run on this low-emission, earth-friendly fuel.

Now, with the addition of their solar panel installation, the facility has further reduced its carbon-based fuel usage, officials explain.

"The energy market needs equipment and expertise that leverage the use of renewable energy," said Dwayne Boulden, Preferred's Vice President of Finance. "Preferred takes a holistic approach to providing solutions, and adding solar to our building is a great demonstration of what we're able to do. We've upgraded our property, and we're investing in our community. And of course, we're saving money, too."

Preferred Utilities, founded in 1920, has been headquartered in Danbury since 1946. The company employs nearly 100 people, and has multiple facilities throughout the United States.  They specialize in the manufacturing of burners, instruments and controls, and fuel oil handling equipment for industrial, commercial, and missions critical applications. Preferred’s clients include government and municipal buildings, hospitals, colleges and universities, data centers, pharmaceutical companies, waste management plants, and nuclear facilities.

"There are no 'silver bullets' in the quest for sustainability with renewable energy. Intelligent, real, cost-effective diversification is the winner," pointed out Preferred's CEO, David Bohn. "If you are going to invest in a sustainable future, you have to look at a number of solutions, fuels, and energy sources. That's why our combination of solar power generation and non-fossil, clean burning, ultra-low carbon emission BRO is so successful, for Preferred Utilities and the planet."

The solar panel array was installed in the facility's parking lot, which had the added benefit of creating a covered parking area. In the first few months since the solar panels went online, Preferred has generated 60,000 kW, saving $10,000. Since the solar panels went online during winter, that number is expected to increase substantially with the additional sunlight of spring and summer, according to officials.  Preferred anticipates that it will generate more than 200 megawatts each year, saving more than $30,000 annually.