2640 Pitkin Ave
The Story
In the summer of 2016, the Director of Housing at Housing Works, a supportive housing organization reached out to Solar One about solar for their portfolio of buildings. After attending a solar workshop in the Lower East Side, Solar One began working with Housing Works to solarize their portfolio.
Through the Here Comes Solar program, Solar One provided Housing Works with free comprehensive technical assistance, beginning with a remote analysis of their portfolio and ranking of the viability of their buildings, then an onsite assessment and estimates of costs/savings for different solar financing methods, comparing an outright purchase with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and finally supporting the installation process itself.
Because the value of solar at the building with the best solar access was low, HCS assisted Housing Works in devising a remote net metering system in which the energy credits generated on 2640 Pitkin Ave are credited to ten other accounts paid by Housing Works. This method doubled the savings for the organization, making it a financially viable proposal.
In January 2017 Housing Works decided to go solar with a PPA through Co-op Power, an energy cooperative based in Massachusetts that helps create community-owned renewable energy projects. The solar installer was GRID Alternatives, a national nonprofit that installs solar at a significant discount for affordable housing.
Permits were filed in October 2017 and installation was completed in January 2018. Due to complications with final permitting, Permission to Operate was delayed for months, and the system was switched on in _____ 2018.
Details
This project has several unique characteristics:
Among the first..
It is among the first implementations of community shared solar, with solar credits generated by the system allocated to 10 other buildings in Housing Works’ supportive housing portfolio.
No upfront investment…
With a Power Purchase Agreement, this nonprofit can benefit from solar savings without making any upfront investment.
Membership…
Through Co-op Power, Housing Works is a member of the NYC Energy Cooperative, and a decision maker in the organization that owns their system.
| Project Snapshot | |
| Client | Housing Works |
| Building Type | Supportive Housing Nonprofit |
| Location | East New York, Brooklyn |
| Financing | Power Purchase Agreement |
| Solar Installer | GRID Alternatives |
| System Size | 24.4 kilowatts-DC |
| Modules | Canadian Solar 290 Watt-DC |
| Inverters | Enphase M250 |
| Lifetime Solar Production | 560,413 kWh |
| Lifetime C02 Reduction | 672,500 tons |
Timeline
Economics
|
Upfront Cost |
No upfront cost to housing provider |
|
Average Annual Saving |
$4,295 |
|
Payback Period |
0 years |
|
Lifetime savings |
$107,303 |
We want to hear from you! If you are interested in solar for your building then please fill out our brief survey and we will follow up in 1-2 business days.
