Aspen Ice Harnesses Solar Power

RANDOLPH, NJ-The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has recognized Aspen Ice with the 2008 NJ Clean Energy Leadership Award–Project of the Year. Late last week, BPU Commissioner Joseph Fiordaliso presented the award to Aspen Ice owner, Robert Carragino, during a ceremony at the company’s Randolph facility located here at 16 Aspen Dr.

The 80,000-square-foot facility opened in 2004 with a commitment to sustainable building designs like recycling wastewater for use in the building’s cooling towers and the Zamboni, an ice cleaning device. In 2007, with funding assistance of $1.2 million from the state’s Office of Clean Energy’s clean energy program, Carragino installed 2,000 solar panels on the 30,000-square-foot roof. Power inverters inside the building convert DC power into AC, a form accepted by standard electrical appliances.

Other installations included high efficiency chillers, green lighting and motion sensors, reflective insulation and a grey water collection and reclamation system. Altogether, these green initiatives have reduced Aspen Ice’s electric consumption by 60% and green house gas emissions by 75%. In addition, nearly 1.7 million gallons of water have been recycled.

“The project at Aspen Ice reflects the ideal in green initiatives for businesses throughout the state,” BPU President Jeanne M. Fox says in a statement. “These innovations are precisely the kind of forward-thinking we need in order to achieve Governor Corzine’s Energy Master Plan goals and transform New Jersey’s energy future.:

“With so many commercial entities endlessly talking about ‘going green,’ it’s inspiring to see a New Jersey business so successfully implement systems that will deliver such a profound impact on energy efficiency, renewable resources and green house gas emissions,” says Commissioner Fiordaliso, adding that “if every business and home in New Jersey could be inspired by this project to take even small steps toward energy efficiency, the results would be impressive.”

Despite a hefty price tag of $2.4 million, Carragino says he felt the investment was well worth the upgrade costs and that he has already recouped 85% of his initial expense. He adds, “I encourage other businesses throughout New Jersey to really assess what they can do for the good of our environment.”