Roofing firm goes all-solar

COURTESY PHOTO When NorthStar Construction Services moved from Leominster to Mount Laurel Circle in Shirley, it installed nearly 400 solar panels on the roof of its headquarters. The panels are expected to provide all power needed at the office.

SHIRLEY -- A local construction company with an emphasis on reducing its carbon footprint went one step further last month.

NorthStar Construction Services installed nearly 400 solar panels on the roof of its 20,400-square-foot headquarters.

NorthStar, a roofing contractor, moved to Shirley in May to allow for growth, according to its president and founder, John LaStella. At its previous facility in Leominster, solar panels provided 30 percent of the its electricity.

The panels on the current facility are expected to provide 100 percent of the company's energy needs, LaStella said.

In addition to the solar panels, LaStella said, the company had an energy audit that led to a change in lighting with new bulbs and motion-sensor switches.

"We also installed a new high-efficiency HVAC system, we participate in the Energy Star Program, we recycle all waste including as much as possible from job sites, and we operate our own fueling station to better manage fuel consumption and costs," he said.

The panels were installed by SouthPoint Solar of Leominster. Mike LaStella, SouthPoint's president and John's brother, said the estimated annual production for the system is 103,000 kilowatt hours, which would cover NorthStar's annual energy usage.

He said the cost of electricity is about 16 cents per kilowatt and the company would produce $16,500 of generated usage each year.

"The payback on this system will be four years, which includes

the full roof replacement," Mike LaStella said.

NorthStar Construction Services has received the Firestone Master Contractor status since 1998, the Inner Circle Quality Award and the Associated Builders and Contractors STEP Safety Award for the past 10 years.

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Roofing firm goes all-solar