A new energy solution company aims to set itself apart from competition in the country's emerging renewables market by offering a "holistic" approach to reducing energy costs and investing in renewable technology.
Speaking with Guardian Business, SuperGreen Solutions Bahamas General Manager Jason Mortimer said that the company also distinguishes itself through internationally certified installation and maintenance technicians.
"The whole concept of SuperGreen is a holistic approach to reducing your carbon footprint. We encourage you to reduce before we ask you to produce," said Mortimer.
SuperGreen currently operates branches in six countries. The Bahamas branch plans to have a soft opening by the end of December, with a grand opening slated for late January.
Mortimer said that the Bahamian branch currently has eight certified technicians specializing in solar and HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems, and is exploring partnerships with other local technicians.
"Once you are affiliated with SuperGreen, you have to have those certifications. We're willing to work with local installers and fly them over to any particular training they need," said Mortimer.
Nic Mayo, operations advisor for SuperGreen Solutions and United Franchise Group, stated that SuperGreen provides customers with full energy consumption assessments before presenting tailored electricity reduction options.
"A lot of people think that going green means that they need solar panels all over their roof structures, be it residential or commercial, and that's not the case.
"We want to show how making that investment now not only reduces customers' carbon footprint and electric bill, but also puts money back in their pockets," said Mayo.
He stated that the company is in talks to develop a solar field in the Family Islands to supply power for 11 residences completely off of Bahamas Electricity Corporation's grid, but could not provide further details at this time.
Interest in renewable technologies within the private sector has grown considerably in recent months as the high cost of electricity continues to be one of the largest contributors to the cost of doing business in The Bahamas.
Mortimer assured that SuperGreen technicians would be fully capable of complying with the Ministry of Environment's proposed Renewable Energy Self Generation (RESG) program.
The RESG program allows residential and select commercial customers with capacity for renewable energy generation, such as approved manufacturers under the Industries Encouragement Act (IEA), to connect to the BEC grid. The program is currently restricted to solar photovoltaic power sources and wind turbines, but could expand after the program's two-year pilot phase.
"Our technicians will be grid tie-in trained so that we can be ready for any government policy changes. Regarding emission reduction, it's better to light a small candle than to curse the darkness. One person cutting their emissions down by 10 percent may not affect us right now, but think about 100 people," said Mortimer.

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