Solar Panels Light the Way at Academy Place
GOWANDA, NY – The Academy Place Apartments in Gowanda have a new array of solar panels on the roof that will generate enough electricity to cover 19 percent of the building’s electrical needs. The system is expected to produce about 25,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year for the residential portion of the building’s hallways, main foyer, and other common areas.
The system is powered by 120 solar panels of 210 watts each.
Environmental Benefits include no noise pollution or moving parts and no fuel is required to operate the system. It produces no waste and will produce electricity equal to the used to power about two average homes. This will also reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 20 tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to the emissions from about 2,000 gallons of gasoline consumed, or the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere by 3.8 acres of pine forest according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“When public and nonprofit facilities go solar, they demonstrate to the community that a solar energy system makes sense both financially and environmentally,” Adam Rizzo, President of Solar Liberty, said. “Every day the sun comes up, these solar panels will generate valuable electricity that Healthy Community Alliance does not have to buy from the grid.”
This project resulted from stimulus funds awarded to Solar Liberty who in turn requested proposals from Western New York non profit organizations through the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.
“The Healthy Community Alliance was fortunate to be one of the organizations selected to receive the solar system,” Alliance Executive Director, Sharon Mathe, stated. “The value of the system in terms of money saved and energy conservation cannot be overstated.”
Solar Liberty is the largest New York solar electric installer with offices in Buffalo and Syracuse. Founded in 2003, the company installs grid-tied photovoltaic solar energy systems for government, nonprofit, education, commercial, and residential customers. Named by Inc. Magazine as the 5th fastest growing private company in the U.S. energy sector in 2008, Solar Liberty is committed to creating turnkey renewable energy solutions with high-quality components. Visit www.solarliberty.com for more information.
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By: The Observer
