Affordable housing projects are prime candidates for solar energy
Affordable housing solar projects allow management to keep prices low with the cost savings from solar electricity. And with solar panels’ durability and self-sufficiency, building superintendents can focus on other areas of maintenance to keep tenants comfortable and happy.
Featured affordable housing solar project:
St. Louis Housing Authority
The St. Louis Housing Authority commissioned a huge, 617 kW solar power installation on their administrative headquarters and four affordable housing complexes. The project was financed by Federal Housing and Urban Development Green Communities stimulus funds and renewable energy tax credits. The installation provides 75% of the electricity for the four housing complexes and 15% of the Authority’s overall energy portfolio. While many of the 2,500+ solar panels were installed on roofs, some arrays were built as south-facing carport canopies, providing covered parking as well as clean energy harvesting.
The installation covers more than 90 buildings across four affordable housing complexes and some administration buildings. The system provides 777,000 kWh annually – enough to power 81 homes. RGS Energy’s Tyson Grul led the project and noted that it is the largest solar initiative the state has seen so far, saying: “We believe it will open doors for many future projects – putting Missouri on the path to being a national renewable energy leader.”
| Size | 617 kW | ||
| Production | 777,000 kWh/year | ||
| Solar panels | Sharp 235W (2,216 modules) SunPower 238W (405 modules) |
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| Mounting | Roof and carport | ||
| Location | St. Louis, MO | ||
| Online since | 2011 |
System offsets:*
| Annual | Lifetime | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pounds of CO2 | 1,181,344 | 29,533,600 | ||
| Miles driven | 1,230,600 | 30,765,000 | ||
| Trees planted | 13,738 | 343,450 |
*Calculations based on EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator. System lifetime is assumed to be 25 years.
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