Solar panels on low-income housing provide a win-win for residents and other people in the local economy.
Here in the Central Oregon region in which I live, $900,000 in federal stimulus funds is helping fund solar power systems for several low-income housing apartment complexes. The Energy Trust of Oregon is also committing funds toward the projects.
The Oregon Housing and Community Services Department is the agency through which federal funding is passed to local agencies to fund experimental solar panels, energy monitoring systems and high efficiency HVAC systems.
Not only will the solar panels help people save on their monthly electricity bill, but the project will provide much needed jobs for installers. In Madras, Oregon – a community near the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, solar panels will be installed at Madras Townhomes. In addition, residents at Healy Heights apartments in Bend, Oregon will soon enjoy free solar electricity generated by nine solar arrays installed on the complex’s rooftop. The solar panels will generate approximately 170,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, saving each resident about $250 per year.
It goes without saying that the residents of low-income housing would not otherwise be able to afford residential solar panels for themselves. By funding solar panels for low-income housing residents, the money saved on energy bills can be put toward food or warm clothing, instead.
The solar panels in low-income housing in Central Oregon are being installed by E2 Solar.
The U.S. isn’t the only place in the world trying to better their low income housing areas by placing solar panels on them. Countries like India have Kamal Nath Urban Development leader paving the way to better the urban development in India.