Vanguard Furniture Expands Use of Solar Energy

Vanguard Furniture and Pisgah Energy have teamed up again to design and install two roof-mounted solar projects at Vanguard’s Frame Plant 2 facility in Conover, NC. These systems, totaling 188kWdc, build on Vanguard’s previous solar installations — furthering its conversion to solar energy and strengthening its commitment to sustainable products and practices, according to a news release.

Vanguard’s Frame Plant 2 now boasts 438 solar panels augmenting power to the building and generating over 267,400kWh of renewable energy annually for on-site consumption. With the addition of this array, Vanguard now has a total of 1,590 solar panels across three facilities — boosting its annual production of renewable energy from 661,900kWh to over 929,000kWh, company officials said.

The new solar electric system will offset 187 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, increasing Vanguard’s total annual CO2 offset from 469 metric tons to 656 metric tons. Total impact of these systems is equivalent to saving over 1,500 barrels of oil from being consumed, removing air pollution caused by 1.6 million miles of driving, or emissions avoided by recycling 225 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill, according to a news release.

“We are grateful to Pisgah Energy for helping us reach another milestone in our pursuit of sustainability,” said Andy Bray, President and CEO of Vanguard Furniture. “Taking the equivalent energy use of 128 homes off the grid is significant and we’re proud to be furthering this important initiative.”

Pisgah Energy served as the primary contractor, designing and installing the project using ‘Made in the USA’ Mission Solar panels. According to Evan Becka, Pisgah Energy’s President and Senior Project Developer: “The addition of the Frame Plant 2 solar array really illustrates Vanguard’s dedication to using solar energy across its facilities. It’s an honor to partner with a company so deeply committed to reducing its impact on the environment, and we look forward to joining forces again in the future.”