| Liberty goes GREEN
RX: GOING GREEN
Liberty Drug is 1st in NJ
Liberty Drug was recently renovated with a new solar photovoltaic system that covers nearly the entire roof area of its facility. Owner, Alan Brown, RPh, contracted Ecological Systems of Manalapan, NJ for the project, who completed the installation of the 42,500 watt (42.5kw) system that consists of 250 panels and 6 inverters that boast a peak efficiency of over 97%. Liberty Drug is the first pharmacy in the state of NJ to be powered by solar energy. “We’ve been watching the cost of energy rise steadily now for years and after researching the benefits, economic as well as environmental, it just seemed like the right thing to do,” Brown says of why he chose to pursue this project.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Liberty’s solar photovoltaic system will prevent the following pollutants during the next 25 years:
- Over 1,900,000 lbs of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions
- Over 568,000 lbs of Carbon emissions
- Over 5700 lbs of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions
- Over 3800 lbs of Nitrogen (NOX) emissions
- Over 2100 lbs of Carbon Monoxide (CO) emission
- Over 700 lbs of Particulates (PM10) emissions
- Over 400 lbs of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
- Over 4900 mg of Mercury (HG) emission
Al Brown says that he’d like to use his solar investment to educate others on the importance that renewable energy sources has on the environment. “This project has stimulated a lot of excitement and enthusiasm here at Liberty and we’d just like to share what we’ve learned with others.” Al plans to use one of his 2nd floor offices, with wall to wall windows overlooking the solar panel covered 1st floor roof, as an educational area where people can get a first hand look at the solar photovoltaic system as well as its benefits.
Over 95 percent of energy in NJ is fueled by non-renewable resources, petroleum at about 50% with natural gas following at about 25% as well as nuclear electric power and coal. This leaves under 5% of energy in NJ fueled by renewable resources including wind, biomass, hydroelectric power and solar power. With global warming as a rapidly growing concern throughout the world, NJ has set high standards to improve its State energy use.
In July of 2007, Governor Jon Corzine signed legislation to adopt aggressive goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey. The order specifically calls for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20% (1990 levels) by 2020 while also meeting 20% of the State’s electricity needs with renewable energy sources by 2020, the main goals of NJ’s Energy Master Plan. NJ is third in the nation to make greenhouse gas reduction goals law. Solar energy is an important part of meeting NJ’s ambitious alternative energy goals. New Jersey is currently the fastest growing solar market in the US, with well over 2000 installations, second only to California, which has four times the population and energy use.
Liberty Drug is proud to be part of achieving steps closer to New Jersey’s Clean Energy goals. |
