The Tampa Housing Authority has partnered with Johnson Controls and the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to provide smart energy saving solutions for its Senior Residents
Tampa -(February 8, 2011) The Tampa Housing Authority has partnered with Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering products, services and solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings and the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to commence construction of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation in the Tampa Bay area!The 330 KW generating system will help provide clean, renewable energy to supplement the energy requirements for the Tampa Housing Authority’s J. L. Young Senior community that when fully occupied, houses 450 residents.
“Implementing this solar program is one of the best things we could do for our senior and disabled resident population. As a public entity, it’s important that we maximize all available resources to support our facilities and improve their quality of life; this funding will also allow us to include roof repairs and long-term warranties for all 450 units.”, said Jerome D. Ryans, President/CEO- Tampa Housing Authority.
During the life of this program (fourteen years), the Tampa Housing Authority will save tremendously on utilities, reduced demand charges as well as generate 431,638 KWH of electricity annually. The approximate greenhouse gas reduction is 683,426 lbs. of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing 59 passenger cars from the highway or the planting of 66 acres of trees per year.
David Koch, Director of Public Housing Solutions at Johnson Controls said, “The benefits of this renewable energy program go beyond the utility savings while demonstrating the housing authority’s commitment to innovation. This program will benefit the Authority’s residents and the overall community for many years to come. Employment opportunities for several Tampa Housing Authority residents will be created during the construction phase and provide them with hands-on learning through renewable energy education programs, on-going training courses as well as interactive displays”.
The $2.1 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars were granted to:
· stimulate the economy
· reduce reliance on imported energy
· reduce the impacts of energy production and use on the environment
· stimulate the creation and retention of jobs
· save measureable energy
· increase energy generation from renewable resources and
· reduce greenhouse gas emissions
According to Rick Morea, Media and Public Relations Manager for the Tampa Electric Company, (TECO), “Last year, the Florida Public Service Commission approved $1.5 million in incentives to be paid each year for five years to help customers install renewable technologies such as new solar water heating and/or photovoltaic systems in their homes and to customers that install photovoltaic systems at their businesses”. To date, TECO has 130 solar customers interconnected with net metering, resulting in a combined capacity of 1,300 kilowatts.
The Housing Authority of the City of Tampa promotes the development and professional management of a variety of affordable housing opportunities, facilities and supportive services to nurture neighborhoods, provide economic development and self-sufficiency activities for residents while also assuring equal access to safe, quality housing for low and moderate income families throughout the community.
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