July 18, 2020
East Bay Catholic School Goes Green, Saving Thousands
Novato and Sonoma based SolarCraft, a leading North Bay solar installer for over 35 years, recently completed the installation of a 96.75 kW DC solar system at St. Theresa School in Oakland, CA. The installation of the solar photovoltaic arrays will reduce the school's carbon footprint and power their facilities with sunlight, reducing their utility costs by thousands every month.
The solar power system is roof mounted on the gymnasium and adjoining classroom building, consisting of 258 high-efficiency solar panels, producing 124,389 kWh annually. The system consists of 2 arrays, powering their facilities with clean, renewable energy.
The solar installation at St. Theresa School is one of many installations planned through the Diocese of Oakland Solar Energy Program for Parishes and Schools, displaying community leadership by promoting environmental responsibility through the implementation of renewable energy, but also recognizing the importance of managing operation costs. Installing solar panels will save them money on utilities, freeing up the operating budget for serving the parish and essential community projects.
California Clean Energy (CCE), a Renewable Energy Service Provider for nonprofit organizations, will own the system and recover its costs through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the church. A PPA is an alternative to purchasing or financing your own solar power system, providing nonprofits the opportunity to utilize clean solar energy with no up-front costs and no system operation, maintenance, and replacement costs. Customers, such as St. Theresa, benefit from fixed electricity prices which will never increase.
Every year nearly 88 metric tons of carbon dioxide generated by St. Theresa's operations will be eliminated. This impact is equivalent to removing air pollution produced by almost 5.5 million miles of driving over 25 years or the pollutants removed by 115 acres of trees in one year.
About SolarCraft
SolarCraft is 100% Employee-Owned and one of the largest green-tech employers based in the North Bay for over 35 years. SolarCraft delivers Clean Energy Solutions for homes and businesses including Solar Electric and Battery/Energy Storage. With over 8,000 customers, our team of dedicated employee-partners is proud to have installed more solar energy systems than any other company in the North Bay. www.solarcraft.com.
About St. Theresa School
Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1958, St. Theresa School is a Catholic community nestled in the quiet Oakland hills, dedicated to the academic, social and spiritual development of each student. A rigorous curriculum integrates faith, academic excellence, and both critical and creative thinking.
