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Clean Uniforms Invests in a 300 kW Solar Carport in New Bedford
Solar power continues to account for a growing share of electricity produced nationwide. Utility-scale solar generation increased by 34% in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Clean Uniforms and More! is contributing to clean energy production by installing a 300 kW solar carport at our New Bedford facility. Once operational, the solar panels are expected to meet nearly half of the facility’s power needs.
The project builds on our ongoing efforts to conserve natural resources, improve air and water quality, and invest in cleaner technology.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- How the solar carport will power our New Bedford operations
- Why solar carport systems make productive use of existing parking areas
- How this project supports our commitment to our surrounding community and the environment
Solar Panels Will Supply Roughly Half of the Facility’s Energy
Commercial laundry requires substantial energy to run washing, drying, water-treatment, and material-handling equipment. The 300 kW solar system is designed to offset roughly half of the energy currently used at our New Bedford facility, allowing us to power more of our daily operations with electricity generated directly on-site.
The installation will be performed by Isaksen Solar, whose team will install the solar panels that capture energy from the sun and convert it into usable electricity for the facility. By producing power on our property, we can reduce our reliance on grid electricity while making our overall energy use more sustainable.
The system also represents a long-term investment in our New Bedford facility and the greater community. Clean Uniforms has served businesses throughout the Northeast for generations, and this project will help us improve efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint.
It reflects the same approach we bring to the rest of our operation: invest in dependable equipment and innovative technology, use available resources responsibly, and look for practical ways to improve our speed and efficiency.
How Solar Carport Systems Combine Power Generation and Covered Parking
Solar carport systems turn an existing parking area into a source of renewable power. Instead of occupying additional land elsewhere on the property, the panels sit on elevated columns above parking spaces, allowing the area below to keep its original function.
At our New Bedford headquarters, the solar carport will create covered parking while generating electricity for the facility. The structure will protect vehicles from direct sun and weather without taking valuable space away from other operations.
This configuration also gives businesses flexibility as their energy and transportation needs change. Some solar carports can support additions such as EV charging stations, although the features and capabilities depend on how each system is designed. For Clean Uniforms and More!, the immediate value comes from using an existing part of our property while supporting the facility with on-site power generation.
Designing a Solar System for an Active Industrial Facility
A commercial solar installation requires careful planning, especially when the property remains active throughout the process. The system must fit the available space, support the facility’s energy goals, and allow employees, service vehicles, and daily operations to continue moving safely around the site.
Solar carport systems typically include photovoltaic modules, structural columns, wiring, inverters, and monitoring equipment. Each component serves a specific function, from capturing sunlight and converting it into usable power to tracking how much electricity the system produces.
The project requires coordination with the solar installer to prepare the parking area, assemble the structure, connect the electrical equipment, and complete the necessary testing before activation. The final configuration must also account for vehicle clearance, local weather, and the facility’s existing electrical infrastructure.
Once the equipment has been installed and inspected, the solar system can begin supplying power to the New Bedford headquarters. This process helps confirm that each component operates as designed and that the complete system is ready for long-term use.
The Solar Carport Builds on Clean Uniforms’ Environmental Work
The solar carport is the latest addition to Clean Uniforms’ broader environmental program. Our approach focuses on investing in technology that reduces energy use, conserves natural resources, and limits the environmental impact of commercial laundry operations.
Clean Uniforms and More! has also earned TRSA Clean Green Certification, which recognizes commercial laundries that meet established water and energy conservation standards and follow industry best practices. The new solar system will support those ongoing efforts by adding a significant source of renewable power at our New Bedford facility.
Reducing VOCs From Industrial Laundry Operations
Clean Uniforms and More! has also invested in technology that addresses volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, released while laundering certain industrial towels. Our Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer captures and treats VOCs in the air generated during the cleaning process.
The RTO removes at least 98.5% of the VOCs that pass through the system. It works alongside our membrane capture equipment, which treats wastewater associated with laundering print and furniture towels. Together, these systems allow us to address VOCs in both the air and water.
The project’s Air Quality Plan received approval from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in 2022, and the completed system passed performance testing observed by MassDEP and EPA representatives. Learn more about our RTO technology for VOC removal.
Supporting More Responsible Water and Energy Usage
Water is central to every commercial laundry operation, so responsible treatment and conservation are a priority. Clean Uniforms and More! continually invests in its wastewater treatment system, and the water treated at our facility complies with applicable clean water requirements.
We also look for practical ways to manage energy more responsibly across the operation. Modern laundry equipment, water-treatment technology, and the new solar installation each play a different role in reducing the resources required to serve our customers.
The 300 kW solar carport expands that work by generating electricity from available space on the property. Rather than treating sustainability as a single project, our team continues to evaluate how new equipment and technology can improve the way our facility operates.
Supporting Customers With More Responsible Laundry Services
Environmental decisions made within our New Bedford facility also affect the businesses we serve. When companies outsource uniform, wiper, and towel laundering, they place part of their operational footprint in the hands of their service provider.
Clean Uniforms and More! gives customers access to commercial laundry equipment and environmental controls that would be expensive and difficult to manage on their own. Our systems treat wastewater, address VOC emissions from qualifying industrial towels, and soon will draw a substantial share of the facility’s power from solar energy.
These investments can help customers make more informed purchasing decisions or strengthen their environmental practices. They also offer a practical way to receive clean uniforms and industrial textiles without managing the laundering process, specialized equipment, or routine in-house delivery.
Investing in the Future of Clean Uniforms and New Bedford
Clean Uniforms and More! has served the New Bedford community since 1919. More than a century later, our fourth-generation family-owned business continues to invest in the people, equipment, and technology that keep our operations moving forward.
The solar carport represents a significant improvement to the campus where our team processes and prepares products for businesses throughout the Northeast. It will allow the facility to generate more of its own power while making productive use of an existing parking area.
This project also reflects a long-term commitment to New Bedford. By investing directly in our central facility, we are preparing it to support our employees, customers, and community for years to come.
Learn More About Clean Uniforms and More!
The new solar carport is another step in our ongoing effort to operate responsibly while providing dependable uniform, wiper, towel, mat, mop, and facility services. We will continue looking for practical ways to improve our New Bedford campus and invest in technology that supports our customers, employees, and community.
Learn more about our environmental policies or explore our commercial laundry and uniform programs. If you are considering a new service provider, request a complimentary program audit to compare your current program with the options available from Clean Uniforms and More!
