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An Austin business has taken a giant step forward in not only helping their own cause, but by also becoming  more environmentally friendly.

Games People Play has recently completed a solar panel project that will generate most of its electrical needs while selling any excess back to Austin Utilities (AU).

“We recognize we are one small business in a wondrously large world,”  said owner Lance Pogones. “We also recognize we need to do our part to contribute to change the status quo on energy use. The opportunity to make this move into sustainable energy is one step in that direction.”

Pogones said that GPP and their partners, including AU, met in February to discuss the possibility of going forward with the project. Up until that meeting, Pogones said they were probably going to hold off on the project.

However, after the meeting they instead made the decision to move forward with it.

“Olson Solar Energy LLC, a solar energy installation and electrical contracting company is proud to have partnered with Games People Play Inc. to increase their energy independence, promote sustainability and work together to help facilitate, educate and motivate residential and commercial properties to invest in photovoltaic systems that are both safe and financially responsible,” said Olson Solar Energy LLC CEO Cameron Olson.”

“After talking to them we were totally on board,” Pogones said Tuesday. “We learned how good it was for the environment and how cost effective it was.”

The project started in May and finished on Aug. 5, when the project was commissioned. Panels are now laid out across the roof with the electrical infrastructure constructed on the outside of the building, which includes a transformer to sell that energy back to AU.

“As a strong advocate for sustainability, Austin Utilities was happy to partner with Games People Play Inc. on their roof-mounted solar system installation,” said Austin Utilities’ Utility Operations Director. “At 84kW of capacity, this solar project is the largest customer-owned solar resource interconnected to Austin Utilities system.”

“We remain dedicated to supporting our customers’ environmental stewardship by offering options to integrate renewable resources into our system and providing our SolarChoice renewable subscription program,” he added.

The move to solar sustainability has been something that’s been in the works for years and Pogones said that in finding the right partners, the time to make a move on the project was right.

Helping to bolster the project, GPP was able to also find the right combination of grants and tax incentives that helped create what turned out to be the perfect environment for investing by those involved.

At the same time, Pogones and GPP is able to track in real time through the use of an app just what kind of effect this project is having on the environment around them.

As of Tuesday the project has generated a total of 12.5MW, has saved $1,400 and has taken nine tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

“I think everybody likes looking at how much carbon dioxide we’re taking out of the air,” Pogones said. “That this is a good investment for the future in some way.”