Overview

ECS Energy installed a roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system on both the showroom roof and the service building roof at Wayne Ford in Wayne, NJ. The solar arrays generate clean, renewable energy that offsets 30% of the dealership’s annual electrical usage, reducing operating costs while reinforcing the dealership’s environmental commitment. As a high-volume car dealership serving the greater NYC metropolitan area, the project required careful planning and coordination for equipment staging and material laydown to ensure that daily operations remained uninterrupted. The installation was completed without impacting dealership activity.

In Year 1, the system is projected to deliver $17,600 in electric savings and generate $17,030 in incentive income. Environmentally, the solar installation is projected to offset 270,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting Wayne Ford’s sustainability goals while delivering measurable financial returns.

Objectives

Wayne Ford sought to install solar to promote sustainability and offset a significant portion of its electric usage. By choosing system ownership, the dealership aimed to leverage Federal tax incentives and State benefits, maximizing financial returns while committing to renewable energy. The goal was both environmental and strategic — reducing operating costs while reinforcing responsible business practices.

Challenges

The dealership operates in a very busy and congested environment with constant vehicle traffic, service appointments, and customer flow. The solar installation could not disrupt ongoing operations or impact the customer experience. Additionally, existing piping runs on the service building roof limited available solar space, reducing the potential system footprint and requiring thoughtful engineering adjustments.

Solution

To avoid operational disruption, all solar installation materials were staged on the second floor of the parking garage, keeping ground-level areas clear and functional. The installation team also rerouted roof piping to the perimeter of the building, opening central roof space and maximizing the available solar footprint. This strategic redesign allowed for optimal panel placement without interfering with daily dealership activity.

Benefits

Wayne Ford now benefits from a meaningful measure of energy independence from the utility. The solar arrays installed on both the showroom and service building roofs offset approximately 30% of the dealership’s annual electric usage. Beyond financial savings, the highly visible rooftop system demonstrates Wayne Ford’s environmental consciousness and commitment to sustainability.