Virginia Supportive Housing, an organization working to end homelessness by providing permanent housing and supportive services to homeless single adults, has incorporated solar at its expanded Richmond, Virginia, location: New Clay House. The 54.45-kW solar PV system is expected to produce 67,834 kWh annually, while a 10-collector solar thermal array will produce 400,000 BTUs daily and add an additional 117 kWh to the building’s energy production.
“Virginia Supportive Housing develops permanent supportive housing that meets EarthCraft Certification criteria. Including solar PV and solar thermal at our properties helps us both achieve the EarthCraft Certification and obtain Energy Tax Credits to help fund our developments,” said Elizabeth Nice, a Housing Development Officer with Virginia Supportive Housing. “Virginia Supportive Housing pays all building and unit utilities so any energy cost savings we can achieve makes a big difference.”
Virginia Supportive Housing has partnered with Altenergy for the solar installations on five other VSH developments, including housing sites in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Charlottesville, Norfolk and Richmond. The New Clay House solar project was assessed, designed and installed by Altenergy’s Maryland branch, one of its six branches in the country.
“We’ve installed PV and solar thermal systems for VSH for several years,” said Shawn Cooke, Director of Operations for Altenergy. “The New Clay house was VSH’s first [housing] project, [and] they are coming back for a full renovation and we get to be a part of that.”
News item from Altenergy
Tell Us What You Think!