Freedom Solar Power, a commercial and residential solar power company, has recently announced a contract to install solar panels at Parkway Auto Group's Honda dealership in Dover, Ohio. Parkway Honda's solar initiative paves the way for future solar installations at Parkway dealerships as the company strives to become 75% sustainable in the coming years. Parkway Honda is one of the first auto dealerships in Tuscarawas County to invest in on-site power generation, setting a new standard for Ohio car dealerships.
At Parkway Honda, Freedom Solar installed a 248-panel, 7,038-square-foot solar array, completed recently in February, that generates 120.3 kilowatts (kW) of on-site power and can generate over $378,000 in savings over a 20-year period. In addition, with this solar array, Parkway Honda will annually lower its environmental impact by over 91.9 metric tons of CO2.
Factors influencing the decision to opt for solar included local and federal financial incentives, testimonies from dealers who had already transitioned, and Honda dealership's roof space that could accommodate solar arrays powerful enough to offset a substantial portion of their energy costs. Following a referral from Honda Green Dealer, Mears selected Freedom Solar as their solar contractor.
Honda Green Dealer is an initiative designed to assist privately held and operated Honda dealers lower their environmental footprint. Parkway Honda, a participant in the Honda Green Dealer Program, is implementing green initiatives and reducing its energy consumption to grow sustainably.
Freedom Solar has completed several turnkey solar generation systems for auto dealerships across the United States, which has been its commercial specialty. As solar energy costs fall, businesses nationwide are adopting it, but none more than the automotive industry.
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) notes that electricity bills can be a dealership's third-highest overhead operating expense because of lengthy operating hours and energy-intensive showrooms and lots. Moreover, dealers have reported rising electric costs; for these reasons, many dealerships are transitioning to solar power to reduce their high energy costs and ensure electricity reliability.
About Freedom Solar Power
Founded in 2007,
Freedom Solar is a leading provider of turnkey solar installations, delivering reliable solar solutions for residential and commercial markets across the US. With operations in multiple states, including Texas, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina, Freedom Solar has installed over 154 MW of solar panels, making it the tenth-largest solar installer in the US and the third-largest in Texas. As a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer and SunPower Master Dealer, Freedom Solar has served national and multinational clients such as Whole Foods Market and Shake Shack and automotive dealerships such as Honda, BMW, and Toyota.