Sunny Hills Services Goes Solar
Novato and Sonoma-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a 53.6 kW solar electric system at Sunny Hills Services in San Anselmo, CA. The photovoltaic system will provide enormous savings for its long-standing facility.
Mary Denton, Sunny Hills Services' CEO, said "We truly appreciate the effort that SolarCraft put into finding lease financing that is cost-neutral over the seven-year term of the lease—a key criteria for us. Being able to implement this green energy solution means a lot to us, and in addition, it will generate financial savings for the Agency after the initial lease term is up."
The system is roof-mounted on the gymnasium and administration buildings, spanning over 3,963 square feet, helping to shade and cool the building.
Each of the 224 solar panels is controlled by a microinverter, manufactured by Enphase Energy of Petaluma, CA. Microinverters are small, compact units directly attached to each solar panel to convert power independently at the panel, maximizing energy production and reducing impacts from shading. Overall system efficiency is increased by 10-12%.
The system's solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and is expected to generate approximately 90,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, providing sustainable and price stable energy to their operations for decades to come.
The new solar energy system allows Sunny Hills to generate enough electricity each day to power over 27 average homes. It will spare the air nearly 40 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually. Over the next 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating nearly 2.7 million miles of driving.
About About Sunny Hills Services
Sunny Hills Services is a private, non-profit organization serving vulnerable youth and their families. What was originally founded in 1895 as an orphanage and farm in San Anselmo, California is now a regional child welfare organization dedicated to protecting, serving, nurturing and healing at-risk children and adolescents. Today, the agency offers a broad spectrum of residential, educational, mental health, and community based services to hundreds of vulnerable children each year.
