Central Ohio Dentist Associates installs solar panels

In November 2010 and again in December 2011, dentist Sudhir Sehgal made some changes that will keep his offices environmentally friendly for the next 25 years—no daily effort required.

During those months, he installed $100,000 of solar panels on his Central Ohio Dentist Associates offices in Hilliard, Columbus and Reynoldsburg. The rooftop panels can collect up to 25.5 kW of solar energy from the sun’s rays and store it for later use.

“It just made sense,” he said, explaining his decision to switch to renewable energy. “Sunlight is free and it was a good investment.”

Ohio offers tax breaks for businesses and individuals who are willing to spend some green to go green. Not only have the panels saved Seghal from his electric bills, but he became eligible to receive $33,000 in tax breaks and is able to sell to AEP any additional energy he collects that isn’t used at the office.

But Seghal’s mindfulness doesn’t stop at the solar panels. He encourages his employees to recycle and limit paper and
electricity use. In fact, those good habits have become so second nature to his office assistants that they said they’ve carried the practices into their home lives.

“I just don’t like to waste,” Seghal said. “If I can prevent something from going into the trash can or if I can save something so it can be used again or by someone else, I’m going to do it.”