Hartford, CT In recognition of their contributions to the deployment of clean energy and demonstrated leadership in their industries in 2021, the Connecticut Green Bank has named the honorees of their seventh annual awards. The awards recognize key partners in the dedicated network of contractors, developers, lending partners, community leaders and home- and building-owners who have supported the Green Bank in the creation of more than 25,600 job years and over 60,000 clean energy projects since 2012. The 2021 awards recognize 27 contractors who are offering Green Bank’s Home Solutions or Building Solutions programs and are performing at a high level and developing outstanding projects, as well as recognizing other Green Bank partners.

“Each year, selecting contractors and projects to award is a challenge because there are so many people and organizations forging the way to a thriving clean energy future in our state,” said Bryan Garcia, resident and CEO of the Green Bank. “While all industries have faced challenges due to the global pandemic, Connecticut’s clean energy economy has proven more resilient than that of other states in the region and the nation overall. This is thanks to the continued collaboration between state leaders and agencies, our utility partners, and the contractors, lenders and residents and building owners who understand the benefits of combatting climate change and reducing energy burdens.”

Here are the award recipients for 2021:

Building Solutions

2021 – C-PACE Outstanding Project

Redevelopment project at One Park Rd. in West Hartford. This project is an outstanding example of the ability of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing to support the redevelopment of historic properties. This $70 million project received $13.7 million in C-PACE financing from CastleGreen Finance, LLC (a C-PACE capital provider and an affiliate of X-Caliber Capital), supporting the conversion of a 135-year-old convent to a 292-unit multi-family housing complex, allowing the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry to remain in their home. The project, developed by Lex-Laz West Hartford, LLC, an affiliate of Lexington Partners LLC, was also made possible by Martin Kenny and Alan Lazowski, the Town of West Hartford and Liberty Bank. The project is the largest C-PACE project closed in the State of Connecticut to date.

2021 – Solar PPA Outstanding Project

Solar installation at Ridgefield High School. The Green Bank honors Con Edison Solutions and the Ridgefield Board of Education for their 319.95 kW solar installation at Ridgefield High School. The solar system was installed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) which is producing electricity and is estimated to help Ridgefield achieve more than $450,000 in savings over the 20 year-term. This is the fourth project the Town of Ridgefield has developed in partnership with the Green Bank.

Home Solutions

2021 - Residential Solar Investment Program - Top Newcomer – Green Power Energy

In only their second year in the Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP), Green Power Energy installed more than 1 megawatt (MW) of solar PV systems in 2021 through the program. Since entering the state’s residential market in 2020, they have quickly grown into one of the highest volume residential solar PV contractors in Connecticut. Green Power Energy recently opened a Connecticut location in Durham with a staff of 15. Since 2020, Green Power Energy has installed a total of 212 projects for 2.5 MW of capacity.

2021 - Residential Solar Investment Program - Top Local Performer – Earthlight

Connecticut-based installer Earthlight had more than a MW of solar PV approved in 2021 through the RSIP. With 2.4 MW, Ellington-based Earthlight has demonstrated that local installers are continuing to grow their business with residential solar. Earthlight has participated in the RSIP since 2013 and has grown into one of Connecticut’s largest local installers of residential solar PV. Since 2013, Earthlight has installed a total of 1,380 projects for 13.6 MW of capacity.

2021 - Smart-E Loan - Top Performers

For 2021, the Green Bank is recognizing 24 Smart-E Loan Top Performers. In 2021, the Top Performers helped over 450 families across Connecticut make home energy improvements – allowing them to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and live more comfortably in their homes. The Smart-E Loan offers homeowners no money down, low-interest financing for more than 40 qualifying projects that reduce energy use and lower utility costs. Since 2013, the Smart-E loan has enabled more than 6,000 families to make improvements with a projected lifetime energy cost savings over $70 million.

In partnership with nine participating local lenders, the Top Performers’ projects surpassed $91 million in closed Smart-E Loans. Financed projects included insulation and window upgrades, high efficiency heating and cooling solutions, rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems, health and safety improvements, and more.

The 2021 Top Performers (in alphabetical order; * denotes 2020 Top Performer recognition):

• 20/20 Air Mechanical (New Milford)
• Absolute Air Services LLC (Portland)*
• Advanced Heating and Air Conditioning (South Windsor)
• Aiello Home Services LLC (Windsor Locks)
• Benvenuti Oil (Waterford)*
• Busy Bee Services (Burlington)
• Campbell Cooling LLC (Newington)
• Celco Heating and Air Conditioning (Bridgeport)
• Deitch Energy LLC (Hartford)
• Ductworks HVAC Services (Southington)
• Energy Unlimited, LLC (Bolton)*
• Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. (South Windsor)*
• Highland Window Co. (West Hartford)*
• Home Comfort Heating and Cooling Solutions, LLC (East Haven)*
• Homestead Fuel, Inc. (Ellington)*
• Link Mechanical Services Inc. (New Britain)*
• Nutmeg Mechanical Services, Inc. (Manchester)*
• Omni Mechanical Services (South Windsor)
• R&W Heating Energy Solutions LLC (Salem)*
• Ralph Mann & Sons Inc. (Ansonia)*
• Ryan F. Murphy Heating & Cooling LLC (New Milford)*
• Service Stars (Danbury)
• SolvIt, Inc. (Plainville)*
• Viglione Heating & Cooling Inc. (East Haven)*