Seventh Street Project Offers Solar Power

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Seventh Street Development of Long Beach has added a new twist to the features provided at industrial and office parks, offering a solar power option for buyers of buildings at its Waterman Business Center. The Waterman development is a 191,000-sf spec project on the east side of Waterman Avenue, just south of the 10 Freeway.

The option to install solar power is believed to be a first for small and medium sized speculative industrial buildings in Southern California, according to Seventh Street principal Craig Furniss, who commented on the solar option during an open house recently at the company's newly completed project. The Waterman Business Center comprises 10 industrial buildings ranging from 9,543 sf to 29,057 sf and two business condominium buildings offering office and industrial units between 2,068 sf and 10,464 sf.

Working with Irvine-based Suntrek, Seventh Street will offer buyers of Waterman'sbuildings five different system options sized from 3,300 watts to 19,800 wattsthat will be customized to the energy needs of each user. The various packages include the installation of the solar panels, the inverter that converts solar energy to AC power and a computerized controller that regulates the system and directs unused power back to the utility.

Seventh Street is offering the solar systems as building optional features at predetermined, fixed prices for fully installed systems. The Long Beach-based development firm says that if a buyer chooses to purchase a solar system, Seventh Street will have the system installedand operational before escrow closes.

Buyers will receive an immediate return on their energy investment, according to Furniss. He explains that 70% to 80% of the cost of the systems is being subsidized with rebates and tax savings through accelerated depreciation, with the remainder being paid off by energy savings.

Another selling point of the solar power systems is that they add value to buildings, according to Furniss. “As energy prices go up, and they will, the solar energy systemwill add appreciable value to the building," the Seventh Street principal says.