Solar Biz Recharges In Hudson | Basement tinkering leads to career for owner
Photo/Amanda Roberge
HIGH WATTAGE: Michael Intrieri of SunDrum Solar in Hudson, which specializes in hybrid solar systems that combine solar electric and hot water technology.
The way Michael Intrieri sees it, every form of fuel used by humans to create energy originates from one source: the sun. Wind, oil, propane, gas and wood — if you really think about it — are elements that would never have come into existence nor would they continue to exist without the sun’s rays as a fundamental piece of the equation.
“I just cut out the middle man,” he explains quite simply, though that’s where the simplicity ends at SunDrum Solar in Hudson.
What follows is a stream of high-tech explanations that have to do with temperature, energy, watts and percentages. It’s easy to get lost in the technical side of it all, but the bottom line is that if you are looking to understand solar energy or to enlist a seasoned professional to install panels and thermal collectors at your home or commercial building, SunDrum Solar — creators of SunDrum Hybrid Solar Energy Collectors, which Intrieri insists are the most efficient and highest quality products on the market — is a pretty hot company.
SunDrum, which has six employees, specializes in so-called hybrid solar systems that combine solar electric and hot water technology.
Reboot
After starting up the company in 2008 and capitalizing on the interest in solar energy that naturally occurs when the cost of oil, gas and electricity start to rise, there was a significant dry spell that occurred in 2009 when those prices then dropped. “People's cash dried up and it was really tough on us,” Intrieri said, adding that he relied on the kindness of his landlord and the patience of his handful of workers to get through that difficult financial time.
But with fuel costs again on the rise, solar energy is — once more — a serious consideration for not only New Englanders but for homeowners and commercial investors on both coasts. Intrieri has a complex understanding of the industry, and predicts that as people become more educated about their options, they will see the value in going solar.
Intrieri’s foray into the world of solar was as a hobbyist. As a young boy, he and his father tinkered in their Connecticut basement together, experimenting with basic makeshift solar set-ups in order to heat a barrel of water. The oil embargos that took place during the 1970s had inspired them to start playing around with solar energy. His dad was an electrician by trade and he had an uncle who worked as a plumber, making materials readily accessible.
“When we got the water up to 300 degrees we knew we were on the right track,” adding that the experience left them thrilled and somewhat petrified, as the water threatened to become steam. All the same, the father-son team knew they had stumbled onto something magnificent.
And as people start to make the investment — which for an average homeowner can run between $20,000 to $24,000 — they should be aware that there are benefits beyond the eventual savings on energy. In addition to a 30-percent federal tax credit that will be available for six more years, some states offer supplemental rebates.
“A hybrid system will provide a fantastic financial return,” Intrieri said, referring to SunDrum’s most popular and efficient collector called SunPower, which is designed to collect 900 watts of the sun’s energy. Other products at SunDrum work in conjunction with existing solar panels to capture the energy that they cannot, and thereby increase their efficiency.
“The environment matters to me,” he said, though he readily admits that his no-nonsense side is often at war with his inner environmentalist. “Being green is nice, but ultimately [a system] has to pass the test on depreciation and payback for it to be a viable option.”
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