Putting some teeth in the solar power movement, floss and dental product manufacturer Thornton International Inc. has completed the conversion of its factory and headquarters to run on the sun in South Norwalk.
According to Thomas Thornton, founder, inventor and president of Thornton International, the instillation was initially a celebration of the 10 billionth unit sold utilizing the company”™s floss patent.
“It took a long time; I invented the product in New Canaan in 1972 from scratch,” said Thornton. “And our bills are actually lower and it attracts attention; it was a good business decision. The Fed paid for 30 percent of the project not in credit, but in cash.”
The project is a 55.44 kilowatt solar system. It will annually offset 106,548 pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 233 cars off the road. It will handle approximately 70 percent of the buildings common usage charges.
Thornton said the conversion to solar power will enable the company to make its products using as much renewable energy as weather conditions permit. Thornton International paid for the $350,000 project with a combination of internal corporate funds and a federal grant made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Thornton said having something like a solar installation is also looked on favorably by clients and prospective clients alike.
“It shows them what we”™re about,” said Brett Thornton, vice-president of Thornton International.
Thornton also owns the building at 149 Water Street in Norwalk, which is also home to the state of Connecticut”™s area offices? and the state”™s Children and Families Department?.
“As business people, even though we want to do our part to preserve the planet, we have to base our decisions on whether or not a major factor of production, like energy, is cost effective,” said Brett Thornton. “Any green initiative we undertake has to be profitable. It turns out that solar power is commercially viable and reduces energy costs after a brief investment recovery period.”
Thornton International manufactures a line of yarn-based interdental cleaning products designed for people with gum diseases, dental bridges and implants.
“It”™s an aggregate benefit you have to start chipping away at the stone,” said Brett. “Maybe some other businesses will do something because of us, who knows. It feels good to be not as dependant on the oil-fired generators. We”™re off the grid a bit.”
