Cape Air going green

Published on Monday, August 09, 2010

Solar power and energy efficiency measures launch the Company’s Green Initiative

Although it looks like other buildings at the Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, Cape Air’s headquarters is becoming a building of the future. The regional airline has just put in place energy measures that aim to make its operations center in Hyannis a net-zero electricity user on an annual basis. The building’s improvements combine intensive energy efficiency measures with the largest solar photovoltaic system on the Cape and Islands.

“This begins to show what we can achieve with existing technology and existing buildings, using a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency strategies” said Jim Wolf, director of the company’s Green Initiative. “We’re taking some big steps, and it’s really exciting to bring the pieces together.” Wolf who has a background in construction trades began working a year ago to put in place the newly installed 258-kilowatt solar photovoltaic project on the roof of the operations center. “We call it our ‘lucky roof’ for its low pitch and orientation to the sun,” Wolf noted. The system is grid connected and the building will import power from NStar’s distribution system when necessary and feed power back into the grid when the system is producing more than the building is using. The system’s anticipated electrical output is equivalent to 75% of what the building has been using on an annual basis. That amount of electricity is the same as what is consumed annually by 30 average Massachusetts homes.

The company established a goal to reduce electricity consumption in the building by 25% thus bringing consumption into line with the production output of the solar panels. Following a detailed energy audit, the company installed lighting relay panels, occupancy sensors, photocells and override switches to provide zone control of lighting in the hangar, restrooms, storage rooms and selected offices; as well as vending misers on refrigerated and snack vending machines.

“We’re also implementing a major upgrade to the shell of the building, insulating, upgrading windows and doors, and stopping air infiltration from the outside and thermal loss through walls and windows. This should allow us to further reduce the overall energy consumption of the building. “All of this means not only long-term economic savings and greater comfort for our employees, but savings for the environment as well. This building is demonstration to all of us that renewable energy and energy efficiency can be used together to achieve a great result” Jim Wolf said.

“We are committed to answering the question, what does it mean for businesses to really go green?” Cape Air founder and CEO Dan Wolf said. “These projects are common sense examples of what can happen in public/private partnerships when business and government work together toward a shared goal, in this case increasing renewable energy applications and energy efficiency.” Dan Wolf noted that an important added benefit is providing green jobs and experience for the region that will help to ultimately bring costs down. “The more we do these kinds of projects, and the greater demand for them, the more we’ll see cost reductions and greater availability of technology and labor.”

Solar project design and installation was provided by New England-based Alteris Renewables, Inc., which has extensive experience in the design and construction of solar photovoltaic projects for commercial residential and public school buildings. Much of the subcontracting was provided by Cape Cod companies including Bayside Electric of Hyannis, Lohr Construction Inc. of South Dennis, who constructed the new roof, and project engineer Michele Cudilo PE, of Centerville, who oversaw the integration of the structural aspects of the design.

While the net-zero electricity project is a special achievement into which Cape Air put focused effort, Dan Wolf said it has been an effort with many partners. “We are grateful to our public partners who worked with us tirelessly to help ensure success.” Funding for the solar photovoltaic project is being provided in part by a grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) and rebates from the Massachusetts Commonwealth Solar program.

Jay Healy, state director of USDA Rural Development Support said, “We’re really excited to be in the business of funding renewable energy projects like this. These projects benefit not only the environment, but create green jobs and lay a foundation for a strong 21st Century economy.”

Patrick Cloney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, said: “Cape Air’s investment in clean energy at Barnstable Airport shows leadership in environmental stewardship, supports jobs in the Commonwealth, makes good business sense, and is helping Massachusetts meet Governor Patrick’s goal of 250 megawatts of solar power in the Commonwealth by 2017. We’re proud to be part of Cape Air’s effort to ‘go green’.”

The Cape Light Compact assisted in the energy efficiency portion of the project. John Burns of the Compact’s efficiency program said Cape Air has “clearly demonstrated the benefit of combining energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

“We’re grateful for the support of these agencies,” Dan Wolf noted, “Commitment and cooperation from public organizations is important and we hope our success and the comprehensive approach we’ve taken will motivate other businesses to explore the types of energy measures that could apply at their facilities.”

About Cape Air
Now in its 21st year, Cape Air is one of the largest independent regional airlines in the United States annually flying over 610,000 passengers to destinations around the world including New England, New York, the Caribbean, and Florida, the mid-Atlantic, the mid west and Micronesia. With a fleet of sixty-two Cessna 402s and two ATR-42s, the employee owned company operates up to 575 flights a day. Based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Cape Air also operates flights under the Nantucket Airlines brand. Cape Air is a codeshare partner with Continental Airlines in the Caribbean and Micronesia, with JetBlue Airways in New England and American Airlines in the Midwest. In addition, Cape Air has ticket and baggage agreements with most major airlines. Cape Air’s unique brand of customer service, MOCHA HAGoTDI,* has earned the airline accolades as ‘Best Airline’ on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and in the United States Virgin Islands. The airline has been recognized for outstanding philanthropy in the communities it serves and Cape Air President Dan Wolf was recipient of the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year™ Award.