Oak Electric adds wind turbines to Waterford HQ

metromode, 10/22/2009

Oak Electric is walking the walk by installing the product it sells.

The 11-year-old firm recently installed a wind turbine at its Waterford headquarters. The Swift Wind Turbine (made in Grand Rapids) is the same one that Oak Electric sells and installs, along with other renewable energy products.

"We wanted to test the data for ourselves," says Gary Pipia, president of Oak Electric.

The turbine is expected to produce 2,000 kilowatts of clean energy each year. To put that in context, an average home consumes 400-600 kilowatts of energy, so the turbine could satisfy the energy needs of up to five homes. The turbine costs $12,000 installed.

Oak Electric has installed a number of these throughout Metro Detroit, especially in the Ann Arbor area. It also installs other wind turbines and solar energy systems. It's in the process of installing a five kilowatt solar system at its headquarters, where it already has energy efficient lighting. All of these are products the 11-person firm sells.

"We've got some jobs out there," Pipia says.

Source: Gary Pipia, president of Oak Electric
Writer: Jon Zemke