A. Rifkin Co. Puts Solar Energy in the Bag

WILKES-BARRE, PA-MAY 18, 2011-The sun continues to shine on A. Rifkin Co., except now it is producing a measurable return on the company’s bottom line.

A. Rifkin Co., the leading manufacturer of reusable fabric security bags and specialty products headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, PA, recently installed 434 solar panels on the roof of their 68,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Keystone Energy Solar Services, Wyoming, installed the panels.

The 230-watt REC Solar Panels harvest sunlight and transfer energy through one centralized inverter with a maximum efficiency of 98.3 percent. The system will produce roughly 117,000 kilowatt hours per year saving the company an estimated $16,000 in electricity.

Paul Lantz, President of A. Rifkin Co. said, “Solar energy will enable us to grow. The money saved and earned will help us reinvest in the foundation of our success: people and technology.”

The system is doing more than just saving the company money, it’s also earning money. A. Rifkin Co.’s inverters are plugged into UGI’s energy grid and can supply the system with electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels. The energy A. Rifkin Co. is unable to use is fed directly into UGI’s system. A. Rifkin Co. is then able to earn clean energy credits that pay cash for the production of solar energy. These credits, called Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), provide long-term value on a short-term solar investment.

Lantz said, “Solar energy presents a win-win situation for our company. The panels generate enough power to save the company money and further our commitment to sustainability, all the while reducing the amount of power required from utilities.”

Efficiency is key, according to AJ Bittner, President of Keystone Energy Solar Services. “We estimate the company’s investment will pay for itself in four to five years. The truth is, it’s already paying for itself. The clean install on the roof reduces the HVAC load by shading the roof and decreases the demand charges by producing sustainable energy during the most expensive and peak usage moments which occur during the day.”

Keystone Energy helped A. Rifkin Co., secure state grant funding and a federal tax credit to reduce the upfront investment on one of the area’s largest solar panel installations to date. Bittner explains, “As part of Keystone Energy’s mission to reduce the state’s carbon footprint we’re committed to helping our customers find ways to make a solar investment work within their budget. It is a pretty safe bet that electric rates will continue to soar, but the sun will never raise its price. A. Rifkin Co. now has a piece of the sun in every bag.”

Lantz added, “We’re pleased to expand our sustainability efforts to now producing re-useable bags with energy harvested from the sun.”