Community partners come together to set the stage for solar energy at Blackhawk Courts

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

ROCKFORD, IL, August 17, 2015 – Rockford Housing Authority (RHA), in conjunction with the Department of Energy/Better Buildings Challenge, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Johnson Controls, Morse Electric, The Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club and the Department of Housing and Urban Development hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday, August 17, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. at the Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club, located at 330 15th Ave Rockford, IL 61104 in celebration of a Better Buildings milestone event, as Rockford Housing Authority installs solar energy at the 4^th RHA site in the community. Rockford Housing Authority signed with the Better Buildings Challenge on December 12, 2013 with a commitment to reduce energy consumption at RHA sites by 20% by the end of 2015. The Better Buildings Challenge supports commercial and industrial building owners by providing technical assistance and proven solutions to energy efficiency. The program also provides a forum for matching Partners and Allies to enhance collaboration and problem solving in energy efficiency. “Our pledge came as part of the RHA’s Energy Performance Contract with Johnson Controls and our work with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity PHA Efficient Living Program. RHA has aggressively sought out opportunities to reduce our gas, water and electric energy consumption and save limited housing operating dollars,” states RHA CEO Ron Clewer. Blackhawk Courts at the Boys and Girls club is the fourth RHA site to install solar energy. 200 panels will be installed at the site, which will produce approximately 68,846 kWh per year output. RHA aligned with Wanxiang New Energy, a local solar energy equipment supplier, for the manufacturing of the panels and Morse Group for the installation at Blackhawk boys and Girls Club. Jodi Stromberg, RHA Redevelopment Project Manager, stated “In 2013, Rockford Housing Authority made a commitment through the Obama Administration’s Better Buildings Challenge to reduce our energy consumption by 20% by 2015.”   The ceremonial groundbreaking celebrated the partnerships that RHA has made, as well as the surpassing of their goal- reducing energy consumption by 22%, with a total cost saving of $204,249.00 to date.]]>