The residents of Stratford East Senior Apartments welcomed friends from across Columbus for a breakfast celebrating their new Impact Solar installation. This project is Impact Solar’s ninth , and second-largest installation by kilowatt hours. The team previously installed solar on the Worthington Northwest Library, on seven homes and counting under the PACT Pilot, and at Corban Commons, another independent senior living community from Dayspring Christian CDC.
The solar was installed at no cost to Stratford East. Instead, Stratford owner Dayspring Christian CDC will benefit from low-cost energy for 20 years. After the 20 year Power Purchase Agreement, Dayspring will assume ownership of the system, and continue benefiting from free electricity.
On Wednesday, December 10th, the project partners were hosted by the residents for a “Sunrise at Stratford East” morning reception. The event was full of holiday cheer, surrounded by Christmas decorations done by the Stratford Resident’s Council. The partners enjoyed connecting with the residents, who will benefit from electricity savings over the system’s lifetime.
Over coffee and pastries, Laura Recchie of Community Renewable Energy said, “As electricity rates continue to rise, solutions like this Impact Solar are critical to help organizations and households live within our budgets.”
Stratford East has committed the savings delivered from the solar energy to maintaining affordable rents for the long term at Stratford East. In addition, the owners of Stratford East have used the projected savings to bring on staff from the Area Agency on Aging. The new staff provides service coordination support for the residents- helping the Stratford East residents thrive in independent living.
“Stratford East was originally built by leaders like Dayspring and 5th/3rd to ensure we had affordable housing in our neighborhood, and here we are almost three decades later and they are still committed to that affordability goal,” Recchie explained.
Impact Solar, is an initiative deploying solar for nonprofits, government agencies, and moderate to low income homes in central Ohio to help reduce electricity costs and offset carbon footprints. The Impact Solar initiative was developed by Community Renewable Energy, an enterprise of Praxia Partners, and the Columbus Partnership’s Clean Energy Ventures.
Fifth Third Bank, who made the initial investment on Stratford East 26 years ago when it was built, recommitted to the long term affordability for the project by investing in this solar array Additional lending was provided by the Columbus Region Green Fund’s support. The project was installed by ARP Solar with materials procured by Exel Solar.
Learn more at praxia-partners.com/cre/impactsolar/stratford-east
The solar installation will generate an estimated 387,585 kilowatt hours of electricity in it’s first year.
