A Bozrah-based foam board manufacturer, The Gilman Brothers Co., has completed a $1.5 million, 750-kilowatt rooftop solar installation and energy efficiency upgrade at its factory.
A Bozrah-based foam board manufacturer, The Gilman Brothers Co., has completed a $1.5 million, 750-kilowatt rooftop solar installation and energy efficiency upgrade at its factory.
Gilman Brothers partnered with energy-as-a-service company Budderfly, based in Shelton, on the project, which is expected to reduce the factory’s annual energy costs by up to 30%.
In addition to the rooftop array, the upgrade includes new LED lighting, a high-efficiency HVAC system and high-efficiency motors paired with variable frequency drives.
The changes aim to cut Gilman Brothers’ carbon emissions from electricity in half over a 15-year agreement, the company said in an announcement.
The emissions reduction equals approximately 9,000 metric tons — equivalent to removing nearly 2,100 gasoline-powered vehicles from roads, according to the company.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the project is scheduled for Wednesday morning at Gilman Brothers’ facility at 9 Thomas Road.
Cyrus Gilman, president of Gilman Brothers, and Al Subbloie, CEO of Budderfly, are scheduled to speak.
Gilman Brothers, a 128-year-old, family-owned business, said the upgrades support its transition toward cleaner and more cost-effective operations.
The partnership marks Budderfly's first major industrial-sector deployment.
Budderfly's energy-as-a-service model allows companies to implement clean energy infrastructure without upfront capital costs.
