The unpredictable costs and unreliability of traditional energy sources have created a surge in the adoption of renewable energy. Plus, an increasing awareness of the harmful impacts of fossil fuels has created demand from consumers to find cleaner alternatives. As businesses look for ways to both lower their monthly utility costs and achieve measurable sustainability goals, commercial renewable energy is becoming a common business strategy.
In this post, we are going to share some of the popular ways businesses are leveraging the power of renewable energy and some of the top benefits of incorporating solar, geothermal, and batteries into your business plan. To learn more about the various technologies that can help your business become more sustainable, and a deeper, more detailed rundown of commercial renewable energy, download our latest white paper for free: Empowering Business Sustainability: Energy Management Technologies Transforming the Future
What Is Commercial Renewable Energy?
Most of the energy used to power our modern world has come from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. These are called “non-renewable” because on Earth, there is a finite amount of these substances available. Plus, collecting and burning fossil fuels has even more negative impacts on the environment, releasing dangerous levels of carbon into the air.
Renewable energy, on the other hand, comes from sources that are not limited (i.e., they can be renewed). Solar and wind energy, for example, are some of the most impactful energy efficient technologies because they are powered by natural resources—and there is wind and sun power every day that can be harvested for our energy needs. This makes them more sustainable, and by avoiding the burning of fossil fuels, they are also cleaner.
Especially when coupled with other energy efficient technologies, commercial renewable energy is an effective way for businesses to lessen their reliance on non-renewable energy, lower energy costs, and reduce their carbon footprint.
Commercial Solar Panels Tame the Energy of the Sun
How do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels are a sophisticated piece of technology that convert light rays from the sun into energy. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t only work on sunny days, as they can still harness the sun’s power even when it’s overcast. Here’s a more technical explanation, from NASA:
“When light energy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides, forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current -- that is, electricity.”
[Source: NASA]
Many people believe that solar panels are not worth installing because, after the upfront cost, they think it will take decades to get that money back. However, this is not the case. When solar panels are incorporated into a larger sustainability strategy that includes energy efficiency improvements, solar panels can impact your monthly energy bills and add up to savings. A single 400-w panel can produce anywhere from 1 to 3 kWh of energy daily depending on their exposure to sunlight, offsetting a building's energy consumption by a significant amount.
The first practical solar panels were made in the 1950s, and serious advancements in efficiency and cost have been made since then. The first solar panels only had about a 6% efficiency rating, whereas the average efficiency nowadays is between 15-22%, and sometime even higher. In the early 1970s, solar panels cost around $100 per watt, making them too expensive for most applications. Thanks to technological innovations and increased demand, the average cost per watt for solar panels was between $2.41 and $3.66 in 2024.
Benefits of commercial solar panels
Save money: Despite their initial investment, solar panels are a smart way to save money. Once you have panels installed, you get energy from the sun for free. You can use this energy to power your business, and if you have extra solar power, you can store it in batteries for future use or even make more money by selling excess energy back to the grid.
Reduce dependence on fossil fuels: Producing solar power means that you will need to get less power from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels from the grid. As the cost of these fuels remains volatile, decreasing reliance on them has obvious financial benefits. Plus, outdated grid infrastructure is increasing strain and leading to increased frequency of blackouts across the U.S. Solar panels help you reduce grid strain and have your own backup energy source in these blackout events.
Lowers carbon emissions: Whether you have corporate near-zero goals or pressure from consumers to demonstrate your environmental concern, solar panels are a perfect way to reduce your carbon emissions and improve your overall sustainability. If you include them as part of an energy efficiency strategy, you can see a serious reduction in your carbon footprint and achieve your sustainability goals.
What Are Geothermal Heat Pumps?
Another impactful commercial renewable energy source is geothermal. Geothermal energy is a natural power source stored in the form of heat beneath the surface of the solid earth that is not dependent on weather conditions. The ground absorbs almost half of the energy radiated by the sun each day, with a constant temperature year-round. That means geothermal energy is a resource that can be accessed in all seasons.
Geothermal heat pumps are the technology that allows us to harness this renewable energy source. In cold seasons, the pumps use refrigerant to bring up heat from the ground that then translates into warm indoor air. In hot months, the same exchange happens in the opposite direction, removing heat from the indoor air and sending it below ground.
Heat pumps can heat and cool buildings using a fraction of the energy. In fact, some heat pump-based systems can save 65% of the energy used compared to traditional HVACs, while improving air quality and comfort levels. Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient heating and cooling systems available on the market today, and they provide many benefits. With lower energy usage, lower maintenance cost, and longer life expectancy than other energy sources, geothermal systems are a sustainable and cost-effective way to heat and cool buildings.
Battery Storage with Renewables
Battery storage is a key player in the renewable game, as it enables higher levels of resilience, flexibility, and control over our new energy sources. Battery storage packs are an increasingly common companion to solar panels installed at business facilities or homes, and there are many use cases. If you have solar panels installed, for example, you can maximize your energy and cost savings by storing additional energy for your facility to use later when the sun isn’t shining on your panels. Excess solar energy can be used to charge electric vehicles, too.
Renewable energy is transforming our world and helping ensure a sustainable future, but it can come with limitations. The output of solar and wind sources, for example, does not come at a steady stream, and peak renewable energy generation times do not always align with peak energy demand from consumers. Batteries solve this problem by storing excess energy that is made during times of high energy output so that it can later be used to power a facility when demand is higher.
As mentioned earlier, because the grid is often unreliable and blackouts sometimes even occur, many home and business owners are incorporating batteries as backup grid at their facilities. This helps ensure a reliable energy source that prevents business disruption during adverse events.
Commercial renewable energy is key for business sustainability.
Solar panels, geothermal energy, batteries, and other commercial renewable energy technologies are crucial for companies looking to lower their operating costs and improve their sustainability. However, the impact of renewable energy is much greater when combined with other sustainability technologies. At Budderfly, we proudly provide and install the most cutting-edge, energy-saving technologies for our customers with no upfront costs, and we are always researching the most innovative solutions available.
Read our latest white paper to learn about the energy management technologies transforming and elevating business sustainability across the U.S.—from high-efficiency HVAC systems to smart monitoring technologies, water conservation, and more. Download it here.
Or to talk to one of our experts directly, contact us today.