Furniture Wholesale Business Goes Green, Owner Goes Solar

Furniture Wholesale Business Goes Green, Owner Goes Solar

by | Oct 8, 2018 | Energy Storage, Renu Solar News

Mark Phillips has installed a rooftop electric system at home and greened his warehouse

future home of solar panels at the warehouse

OCTOBER 8, 2018 – HIGH POINT, NC – The signature wood and stone furnishings and sculptures from Phillips Collection stand out in any room. Owner Mark Phillips has recently received attention for a different distinction: He’s completed major energy efficiency retrofits to his 166,000-square-foot headquarters of the furniture wholesale business to demonstrate environmental responsibility. At an electric cooperative conference in Asheville where he was invited to speak, he explained the many energy-saving changes they’ve made, including:

  • Removing all halogen bulbs from track lighting and replacing with articulated LED fixtures newly invented for this purpose that make use of existing track (in collaboration with ERD of Kernersville) eliminating the need for expensive rewiring, and reducing cooling needs and lighting cost. They even acquired a specialized bulb disposal machine for the job.

  • Right-sized the incoming power transformers with help from ElectriCITIES, modifying the facility’s demand

  • Put in 3 electric vehicle charging spaces outside offering free power for customers who can plug in

  • Implementing a solar installation for the business

Furniture wholesale and design has long been a part of High Point’s culture and Mark’s company specializes in designing organic pieces that embrace natural materials. From mango and acacia tree roots to reclaimed teak, Phillips Collection sources sustainable materials and transforms them into prized conversation pieces. Mark acknowledges that his business depends largely on natural ecology and travels to Thailand to ensure that the next generation of arborists and carpenters are ready to continue a steady relationship with him and his team. On a recent visit he rallied a group of 400 — comprised of local students, teachers, factory workers, villagers and local officials — and together they planted 6,000 trees in a single day.

using less power, storing and showcasing the same great furniture designs

Phillips went solar at his home this month, and the business installation is scheduled for October. Renu Energy Solutions is providing both the residential and commercial installations. Combined they add up to 45 kiloWatts in total size, estimated to produce over 63,000 kiloWatt hours of solar power in its first year.

About his choice to go solar, he says: “My father always said the big decisions in life are obvious. This was one of those.” For Mark, addressing energy sustainability expresses his values, and at the same time he notes that he’s likely to come out ahead by betting that the cost of electricity isn’t going down. He says he committed to energy efficiency and solar at his business and home to save money and because, “it’s the right thing to do.”

Phillips Collection Owner Mark Phillips will be available to talk about his experience pursuing energy efficiency and green standards before and during this upcoming event.

Meet Mark Phillips during Phillips Collection’s  Showroom Party  (IHFC C-202) High Point Market

210 East Commerce Ave, 2nd Floor C-202, High Point, NC 27260

Saturday, October 13, 2018 beginning at 3 pm – event will be underway at 4 pm

Brewed with the sun: Wise Man goes solar

Brewed with the sun: Wise Man goes solar

by | Apr 18, 2018 | Renu Solar News

Wise Move: Wise Man Brewing goes solar

Winston-Salem, NC – APRIL, 18, 2018 – Winston-Salem’s Wise Man Brewing is pleased to announce they have completed a 34-kiloWatt solar energy installation on their building’s roof, located at 826 Angelo Brothers Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. On Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2018, the brewery will host an event celebrating clean energy and marking the brewery’s recent sustainability strides.

Wise Man’s owners have taken steps to make the most of their solar, including thicker insulation, LED lights, and high-efficiency water taps for brewing. With these energy-saving improvements, they expect to see the electric usage decline even while beer production increases.

Wise Man Brewing Co-Founder Jason Morehead describes their solar plan this way: “We have always had a focus on sustainability, but getting a brewery off the ground is a monumental task. Now that we’re up and running, we’ve been able to take a step back and focus more on our footprint. Being an environmentally friendly brewery is central to being a good neighbor and responsible business.”

Spencer Warmuth, a Wise Man “Beer Scholar” who helped spearhead the solar effort, adds, “Our taproom customers know that community is core to Wise Man’s culture, and our move to use solar highlights this commitment. We’re looking forward to serving up beers that are among North Carolina’s first brewed with sunshine.”

Representing the building’s owner, Drew Gerstmeyer says, “Wise Man has been a vibrant addition to the growing community of excellent businesses in Winston’s entertainment district. We were happy to do our part by lending the building’s roof to help with Wise Man’s conversion to solar power.”

Wise Man Brewing is displaying the benefits of affordable, reliable solar energy for its bottomline by reducing electric utility bill costs, for averting the need for costly new power plants, and for a sustainable world. The brewery recently celebrated its first anniversary.

Renu Energy Solutions, the solar installer on the project, has provided solar energy systems for home and business since 2010 and is proud to partner with Wise Man Brewing as they join the renewable energy revolution and celebrate Earth Day 2018.

Wise Man Brewing announces plan to add solar

by | Oct 10, 2017 | Renu Solar News

Winston-Salem’s Wise Man Brewing Is Going Solar

Winston-Salem, NC – October 10, 2017 – A local Winston-Salem brewery is announcing something no other production brewery in the Triad has up to now: Wise Man Brewing plans to harness the power of the sun!

Wise Man Brewing has quickly gained recognition since opening in January 2017 in the historic Angelo Brothers building located in downtown Winston-Salem. Their planned 34-kW solar system will offset a majority of the brewery’s future power bills. This new development is energizing brewery staff and garnering tremendously positive feedback from taproom customers.

This is a big step for an antique building: the 90-year old Angelo Brothers structure had been sitting vacant for about a decade and was in dire need of repair. Remodeling for the brewery began in 2015, and Wise Man was able to open its doors two years later. With the remodel of the historic building came an opportunity to make efficiency upgrades to the building such as a new roof, insulation, LED lights, high-efficiency water taps for brewing, and now finally solar energy.

Wise Man’s owners expect to see the electric usage decline even while beer production increases. On the timing of the decision, Wise Man Brewing Co-Founder Jason Morehead says, “We have always had a focus on sustainability, but getting a brewery off the ground is a monumental task. Now that we’re up and running, we’ve been able to take a step back and focus more on our footprint. Anyone who has been to our taproom knows that community is core to Wise Man’s culture. Being an environmentally friendly brewery is central to being a good neighbor and responsible business.”

“Speaking as both a lover of craft beer and as a supporter of renewable energy, I’m thrilled that Wise Man Brewing is moving ahead with solar,” said Patrick Cavanaugh of Renu Energy Solutions. “I love a good craft beer in a historic setting, and now the building will feature clean energy, too. The Renu Energy team is pleased to be a part of this project, and it wouldn’t surprise me if more breweries opt to start using solar to reduce monthly power costs while making a statement about taking care of the planet.”

Within the past 15 years, Winston-Salem has transformed itself from a textile and tobacco economy to be a leader in the nanotech, high-tech and biotech fields. Medical research, banking, and a flourishing arts community have come to give Winston-Salem its character in recent years. Wise Man Brewing along with others breweries is making a mark on the craft brew scene in North Carolina, in quality and in social benefits.

Renu Energy Solutions has provided solar energy systems for home and business since 2010 and is proud to partner with Wise Man Brewing as they join the renewable energy revolution. No-cost consultations for solar are available for qualified homeowners and commercial customers.