They may be the most environmentally friendly painting contractor on the planet.

S.R. Tracy Inc. in Northeast Harbor, Maine, just installed 56 solar panels on the roof of its garage.

Asked why it decided to go solar, the company pointed to the rising cost of energy. It expected to cover its upfront investment of $80,000 within three years.

That’s a great example of something that’s as friendly to your wallet as it is for the planet.

The company plans to add 20-30 additional photovoltaic panels to fully cover their energy uses, which exceeds their current capacity. 

The company’s panels can feed excess electricity back into the grid in exchange for credits from the power company.

Citing Tesla as an inspiration, the company made the green energy transition with help from state and federal grants.

That’s not the only way that S.R. Tracy Inc. is helping the environment.

The company also opened itself as a paint recycling facility. It takes any old latex or oil-based paint from the local community for free to help prevent illegal dumping.

For those who might follow in this company’s admirable footsteps, a word of warning: do research to choose your solar company.

Many of the door-to-door salespeople or unknown callers on your phone who pitch you solar are trying to line their pockets instead of protect the planet.

These fly-by-night solar companies are really all about getting you into high-interest loans and trapping you with expensive equipment you can’t pay off.

Another common scam is to call you and say the state is offering financing for residents who want to switch to solar. In many cases, they’re lying, so check your state’s website for the facts.

Whether it’s solar panels or paint recycling, we love to see painting contractors helping out their local community. Check out the PCA’s Paint It Forward to find out more about how to help.