Sparta Floral & Greenhouses has served Sparta and the surrounding area since the 1860s. It has been owned by the Solberg family since 1945. The “new” greenhouse includes a retail operation and another house with foliage and house plants that are grown year-round. The other two greenhouses on the property are a garden center and a growing operation.  Jessica Mlsna, Focus on Energy Advisor, partnered with the Solberg's contractors to help make their expansion dream come true, with energy savings to boot!

The main energy consumption goes to heating. For cooling, they rely on natural ventilation and use half fans (horizontal airflow fans) to help with the airflow when the vents are closed. Over the years, the Solbergs have utilized a variety of fuels, including coal, fuel oil, and now natural gas, which is their main source.
Winter is their main heating time, and their energy needs can vary dramatically depending on the weather. They have had monthly heating bills as high as $20,000. The Solbergs also had to deal with an inefficient boiler. Their previous boiler system that used to feed all the greenhouses had leaks and regularly needed to be refilled.

The Solbergs worked with Focus on Energy on previous retrofit projects in their older greenhouses. When pursuing this new construction project, their builder was adamant they collaborate with Focus on Energy to ensure they installed the most efficient equipment. Their Energy Advisor helped determine which equipment would qualify for rebates. They bumped up to a more efficient grade of heaters costing equal to the older, inefficient models.

The bottom line is that all that additional space, is now efficiently running with savings in the Solberg's pockets.

Energy Savings Summary
• Received $11,177 in Financial Incentives from Focus on Energy.
• Energy Savings:
o 194 kWh.
o 12,138 Therms.
• Annual Bill Savings:
o $9,125.
• Savings equate to the same amount of electricity used by 12 homes for an entire year.

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