Mar 31 2010
Aide Solar, a large-scale producer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, today announced that its 180 watt mono-crystalline solar panels have been installed at Non-Profit Organization Horses Help in Phoenix as part of a larger Urban Farm Model designed by the therapeutic riding center to conserve resources and control costs.
In addition to the solar panels, a composting system, a water cistern, a weather station and a community garden all contribute to a system of sustainable green solutions.
“The entire project fits in well with our overall organizational goals which are education and rehabilitation,” said Gregg Goodman, executive director, Horses Help Therapeutic Riding Center. “Not only will we be able to serve more of the special needs population with the money we save, we have created a model that we can teach to other non-profit organizations.”
With the installation of the current components nearly complete, Goodman says future plans call for additional solar panels, a geothermal cooling and heating system and a series of classes to teach others the interworking relationships of conservation and sustainability with a hands-on component of gardening, composting and water harvesting.
Thomas Carter III, project manager of Horses Help's sustainability project, believes that solar has a big role to play in helping non-profit groups and people in low income brackets cut anticipated electricity costs.
“The way I look at it, every kilowatt of energy saved has the potential to benefit another person in need,” Carter said. “You can drastically cut anticipated electricity costs through the installation of solar modules and greatly benefit from the sustainable savings.”
The Phase-I solar installation at Horses Help has 3.6kW of capacity that will provide power for the educational facility and administrative offices.
A Phase-II solar installation will power the large DC driven fans used in the composting process. When the fans are not in use, the power generated will be used to meet other off-grid electrical needs of the composting and permaculture operations.
“Having our solar modules as part of this unique sustainability project in a non-profit organization is very rewarding,” said Raymond C. Wiley, director, North America Sales, Aide Solar, U.S.A. and member of the Arizona Department of Commerce’s Green Economy Advisory Committee. “The Horses Help Urban Farm Model is just one more example of how solar can be integrated into a larger Green concept. The people at Horses Help deserve a tremendous amount of credit for implementing it.”