Stamford, CT The DiMare Pastry Shop is known for bringing sunshine into customers’ daily lives and special moments through their baked goods, cakes and cookies. Now, the family-owned and operated business will power its 12 Largo Dr. South location thanks to a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on their roof.
The 75.8 kW solar PV system was financed through the Connecticut Green Bank’s innovative Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, which allows property owners to take advantage of energy upgrades immediately and pay for them over time alongside their property taxes. The solar PV system is estimated to save the business more than $20,000 a year on their electricity costs. The system was installed by 64Solar.
“We’ve spent over 40 years as a family baking delicious treats for our community and making customers happy,” said Maria DiMare. “Going green with our new solar system takes some of the pressure off our business by giving us lower energy costs. We’re proud to be doing the right thing for the environment too. We want to keep baking, delighting our customers and continuing on as a long-standing partner with the towns we serve.”
“Going solar is sweet! We’re saving money, helping the environment and I think our customers appreciate how we’re leading the way into the future with our new solar system,” said Sabrina.
Started by Ugo and Bice DiMare in 1976, DiMare Pastry expanded to a second Stamford location in 1997. Three generations, including Ugo and Bice’s daughters Maria and Sabrina and granddaughter Brittany, now keep the two shops running.
“We are proud to see a great family business like DiMare Pastry using C-PACE to go solar,” said Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Financing Programs at the Connecticut Green Bank. “Energy efficiency and renewable energy can provide many opportunities for small businesses, the backbone of our communities, to save money and help the environment. Financing these types of projects with C-PACE gives small business owners more control over their energy costs by both lowering and making them more predictable. With businesses looking more carefully at their operating expenses, additional cash flow from reduced energy costs can mean that they can focus on their core work, their employees and serving their communities.”
“We are thrilled to help DiMare Bakery go green and realize significant savings on their electricity expenses,” said James Patenaude, Director of Sales Management for 64Solar. “Working with the Connecticut Green Bank with C-PACE financing has allowed for a smooth process and will bring solar to DiMare with no initial investment required! Smart building owners are seeing the advantages of using solar energy paired with C-PACE financing to achieve their clean energy goals.”
DiMare, which remained opened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, has been delivering donations to frontline workers at Stamford Hospital throughout the health crisis.