2640 Pitkin Ave

Housing-Works_Drone-Aerial_Oblique_Solar arrayThe 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

Housing-Works-Solar-Timeline_Web

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.

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