Establish a baseline
Review electricity use, operating hours, demand charges and upcoming changes such as EV charging. Use actual bills to define the starting point.
Solar 101 · Business Sustainability
Make your energy goals
measurable.
A practical starting point for companies, nonprofits and houses of worship.
Evaluate your site
Assess roof life, structural conditions, land or parking areas and utility capacity. Match solar and storage to the organization’s actual energy needs.
Define the outcome
Choose measurable goals such as annual solar kWh, reduced grid purchases or support for essential backup loads. Track actual performance after activation.
Make credible claims.
Renewable energy certificates represent renewable attributes. Selling or assigning SRECs affects which renewable-use claims your organization can make. Review certificate ownership before describing the electricity as renewable in a sustainability report.
Understand SREC ownership →Plan the investment.
Review project cost, maintenance, financing and any approved incentive separately. Taxable businesses and eligible tax-exempt owners have different routes to federal benefits.
Business credits & nonprofit direct pay →