Solar, baby, solar!

Solar, baby, Solar!!!

Kermit the frog not-with-standing, it IS easy being Green!!!  We are thrilled that in a matter of a few months, Appel Farm will have its very own solar array that will reduce it’s energy emissions by over 50%!!

This is so exciting for all of us at Appel Farm because incorporating solar energy at our facility is a responsible and important step in our commitment to environmental stewardship and preservation.

Having a solar array will be a wonderful opportunity for our GREEN Corps (Get Ready for Environmental Education Now) campers to learn about photovoltaic systems and how easy it is to incorporate solar power wherever electric energy is being used.

Our new solar array will be a ground-mounted system occupying about 2 acres of land, east of our main facility, and donated to us by Albert and Pei Min Appel. It’s a long story, but without the Appel’s generosity, we would be unable to achieve this milestone in our conservation efforts.

The array will be installed by Eastern Energy Services, a regional leader in solar power equipment, through a “power purchase agreement.”  Appel Farm will have no upfront costs for the photovoltaic panels, nor will it be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep.  Eastern Energy will sell us our electric energy at roughly 50% of what we currently pay to our utility company – saving Appel Farm over $36,000 in the first year, and over $1,000,000 over the term of our contract with them!

Appel Farm is also very grateful to Upper Pittsgrove Township Mayor, Jack Cimprich, and past board president, Ronnie Cimprich, for their assistance and financial support in the planning and application portion of this effort.

Let the sun shine!!!

Good day, sunshine!

Mark Packer, Executive Director