Entering the office of John McIntyre and his eponymous electrical business inclines people to think they’ve taken a wrong turn while touring the PGA Hall of Fame. And though visions of Pebble Beach sea breezes and cardigan sweaters are immediately tranquilizing, don’t be fooled by the window dressing: The hub of operations at McIntyre’s Electrical Service really has nothing to do with putts and chips and cups and greens. Instead, this Main Street bastion of Fruitland commerce is exclusively dedicated to serving its community through the execution of unparalled excellence and consummate professionalism. That’s the main reason McIntyre’s Electrical has been going strong for 25 years and why its founder has recently launched the company’s next generation — one that will minister to the needs of that community well into the 21st century.
“The truth is, alternative-energy sources are here — and they’re here to stay,” declared McIntyre, a certified master electrician who created his company in 1985. “Fortunately, thanks to the federal stimulus package, the government is making it much easier to make the leap to these new and improved systems.”
True enough. The federal tax credit on Energy Star-certified homes is 30 percent of the total cost — that means product plus installation — with no upper limit, whether it’s for a solar water heater, solar panels, a geothermal heat pump or a wind-energy system, as long as the system is in service prior to December 31, 2016.
The state of Maryland, meanwhile, is in the process of funding its own alternative-energy incentive programs, which offer up to $10,000 in grant money for the deployment of solar photovoltaic, geothermal heat pump or wind-energy systems. Of course, none of these incentives include the money you’ll be saving in terms of the reduced energy bills associated with lower energy consumption. On average, these systems tend to pay for themselves within a few years of installation.
“The tax incentives for home builders are getting pretty attractive, too,” McIntyre added, “so expect to see all quality-oriented new residential construction projects and developments come through as Energy Star-certified.”
Definitely one who likes to stay ahead of the curve, McIntyre has made sure he and his company are prepared for the green tsunami of eco-friendliness that will soon wash over us all. Hence, McIntyre is certified in solar- and wind-power energy systems as well as LED and fluorescent technology by organizations such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a subsidiary of the U.S. Green Building Council. What all this means is that whether you need a receptacle in your attic, a complete residential or commercial lighting-design package, a retrofit of any size, or the installation of a cutting-edge solar-energy system, McIntyre’s Electrical has the street cred and the book smarts to be your one-stop electrical shop.
That’s why McIntyre in April restructured his business to more efficiently meet the rapidly increasing need for levelheaded expertise on a too-rapidly evolving subject. So, where there was one company, now there are three. Under the auspices of brand-new parent company Wire Works LLC, McIntyre has formed subsidiary companies Solar Works, Wind Works and has retained, of course, McIntyre’s Electrical Service, so that each could focus exclusively on a specific aspect of residential and commercial energy provision. “We strive to be completely full-service,” said McIntyre, a native Fruitlander and 35-year veteran of the town’s volunteer fire department. “We even counsel clients on how to apply for their federal or state tax credits, rebates or grants. Basically, we want to take all the insecurity and uncertainty out of the process of modern energy strategies. We went to school to study all this esoteric stuff so that our customers wouldn’t have to.”
In the end, John McIntyre is as much a product of his cherished environment as anyone can be, to the point that one can practically smell the seeds of Fruitland flowing through his veins as well as those of his five children and his cherished wife, Dina, who her husband of 16 years says plays a pivotal role in the day-to-day operation of the business.
“I am all about our new companies in light of the emerging market for energy savings that’s at hand,” asserted McIntyre, “and I am completely dedicated to making all of this work. I also want to assure the community and my customers that all of our endeavors will prove a work ethic, training, education and expertise with Wire Works, Solar Works, Wind Works and McIntyre’s Electrical that far exceed those of any competitor.”
Wire Works LLC, consisting of the following subsidiaries: Solar Works,
Wind Works and McIntyre’s Electrical Service, 308 E. Main St.,
Fruitland, Md., 410-546-1810.
