System Size: 168 kW
Installation Type: Roof Mount
Installation Date: April 2022
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Annual Environmental Offset: 145 tons of CO2 or preserving 3,364 trees
Located in Mount Airy, MD, Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue is a non-profit equine welfare organization, formed to facilitate the rescue of draft and draft cross horses from slaughter, abuse, and neglect. They are funded entirely by donations that go towards the rescue and care of over 300 horses annually. Rescue and rehabilitation can be a costly endeavor and Gentle Giants is always looking for ways to redirect any savings back to the horses. This is one of the many reasons the organization invested in solar energy. “As a non-profit, we’re also very invested in making sure that we’re protecting the investment of every single donor dollar” stated Christine Hajek, co-founder. “We want to be as efficient as we can with every single dollar.”
Gentle Giants decided to invest in solar to reduce their carbon footprint while also being good stewards of their donor’s money. Lauren Nation, the Development Director, stated “We have a large unobstructed roof that could provide plenty of space for solar panels to provide electricity from the sun. The decision to go solar was a no-brainer for us”.
Lauren went on to say, “the process with Paradise Energy was straightforward and easy”!
The non-profit has over 150 horses in their care and they rely on electricity for a wide variety of reasons. Electricity is used to keep water in the troughs from freezing in the winter, to run fans in stalls during the summer, and to keep feed and medications in temperature-controlled environments. They are very excited that the energy generated through solar is helping offset their electric costs.
The solar energy array is projected to save nearly $130,000 on the electric bills for the non-profit over the next 25 years. This was made possible under the Power Purchase Agreement with Sunstream Energy and Paradise Energy Solutions. Paradise Energy designed and installed the 100 kW solar rooftop array. Lauren said they expect to save over $500 on their electric bill in just the first year. “Any dollar we can redirect towards saving and rehabilitating draft horses is a huge win,” said Lauren.
Gentle Giants encourages any business owner that might be considering a solar investment to just “Go For It”. “The process is easy and the savings well worth it.”
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