Brookline Community Foundation Goes Solar

BROOKLINE, MA —The Brookline Community Foundation just installed solar panels on the roof of its historic building in Brookline Village. And they are ready to celebrate.

“As a non-profit, BCF is fortunate to own its headquarters, allowing the foundation to do its part to reduce carbon emissions and move Brookline toward a sustainable energy future,” said Brookline Community Foundation Executive Director Jenny Amory who also is inviting the public to come see the new panels and celebrate their installation on November 15.

Amory said the 40 Webster Place headquarters will reduce its carbon emissions with the solar photovoltaic system that generates more than 14,000 kWh of electricity annually. The solar array is supposed to reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 16,000 lbs per year. And that means reducing the foundation’s carbon footprint by 278 tons of CO2, which is the equivalent of a mature 277-acre pine forest over the lifespan of the system, according to a release.

To fund the solar panels, the Brookline Community Foundation partnered with SunBug Solar and BrightView Energy. Under contract to BrightView Energy, a solar energy provider that works primarily with non-profit organizations, SunBug Solar installed the solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the BCF’s headquarters.

BrightView Energy financed and operates the system, and through a Power Purchase Agreement, sells the renewable energy generated by the system to the foundation. Utilizing the arrangement meant that the Brookline Community Foundation was not required to provide any up-front funding, will realize significant savings on electricity costs and will have the option to purchase the solar array in 15 years at a small fraction of the original cost.

Once the system is purchased, the foundation will gain the full benefit of generating its own electricity with almost no ongoing costs. The anticipated savings to the foundation over the life of the system are estimated to be more than $70,000.

“Thanks to this [agreement], [Brookline Community Foundation] was able to find a way to go solar without sacrificing the critical grant funding we provide to the Brookline community. We are proud to be doing our small part for the environment, in a way that is fiscally responsible,” said Mike Lindstrom, chairman of the Brookline Community Foundation Building Committee.

Meg Artuso, BrightView Energy’s CEO, commented that “BrightView Energy is delighted to provide the BCF with a carbon free source of electricity as well as energy cost savings which can be put to good use through the BCF’s grant programs.”

EVENT:

The Brookline Community Foundation will celebrate their solar installation on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 2:30 – 3:30 pm RSVP at http://events.constantcontact....