East Providence Jewelry Company Goes 100% Solar

Imperial Pearl has installed solar panels that will provide 100% of electricity needs for its World HQ in East Providence.

Imperial Pearl, America's leading pearl importer and one of the world’s preeminent designers of fine pearl jewelry, today announced that newly installed solar panels will provide 100% of the electrical needs of its company’s World Headquarters, a sprawling structure in East Providence that encompasses offices, showrooms, a design studio, and manufacturing, inventory storage, and international shipping facilities. The cost of the conversion is in excess of $1 million.
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“Imperial Pearl enjoys long-standing relationships with pearl farms in some of the most exotic and pristine locations on the planet,” explained company president, Peter Bazar. “These facilities are, to say the least, fragile.  Even minimal changes to their ecosystems can wreak havoc.  And today they are severely endangered by rising sea levels resulting from global warming.”

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Bazar continued, “Using every measure at our disposal to reduce Imperial Pearl’s carbon footprint, including the installation of solar panels, is simply the right thing to do for the earth and all who will live on it for generations to come.  At the same time, this change makes perfect business sense for us.  It represents a small but meaningful effort to preserve the pearl farms on which we depend for product, and it virtually eliminates our company’s $6,000 monthly electric bill.

“So,” he explained, “when I’m asked if Imperial Pearl went solar because the Bazar family is focused on preserving the planet or preserving profit, my answer is ‘yes.’”

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation recognized the ecological and economic significance of Imperial Pearl’s conversion to solar power by awarding the company a $200,000 grant.  In addition, the project has been supported by a federal tax credit totaling one-third of its cost.

The decision to purchase the finest solar energy system available was made jointly by company owners Bazar, his father Banice, who founded Imperial Pearl and today serves as Board Chairman, and his son, Chief Marketing Officer Josh.  “The panels have a 40-year life expectancy, and the savings we can anticipate over that period more than justify the initial expenditure of a million dollars-plus.  To be honest, I don’t know why every business in America isn’t doing its own version of what we’ve done.”

Bazar spoke of the world in which his grandchildren will come of age.  “For me, every day is Earth Day.  I want them to inherit a planet that is healing from centuries of abuse.  I want to teach them by example how to help make the healing happen. That’s why I drive a Tesla and why I view the solar conversion as a family legacy not just for my descendants, but for the human family.

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