Friday, April 13, 2012

Green Mountain Energy Donates Solar Array For Houston School


Houston, TX (PRWEB) April 13, 2012 To commemorate Earth Month, Green Mountain Energy Company donated $50,000 to the Houston Independent School District to build a solar array at Wilson Montessori School (2100 Yupon). The check was presented on April 12 at the district’s board meeting.

Green Mountain is funding the solar array through the Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM, a unique program in which all Green Mountain residential customers can make monthly contributions to assist non-profit organizations with the installation of solar energy. Solar power is an important and easily accessible renewable resource since energy can be generated wherever there is sunlight.
“We’re serious about doing environmental work in the district,” Dr. Gavin Dillingham, HISD's manager of energy and sustainability said. “This is another milestone in making Wilson Montessori a leader in environmental initiatives.”

The array will assist Wilson Montessori School as it participates in HISD’s Green School Challenge. Through this program, schools pledge to reduce their energy and water consumption, and to increase the amount of single-stream waste recycling. Thanks to this initiative, HISD’s Construction and Facility Services has saved over 14 million kilowatt hours. That’s enough energy to power over 13 elementary schools for an entire summer! Thirty HISD schools are currently participating in the Green School Challenge. Wilson Montessori will use the new solar array to reduce the campus’s carbon footprint and energy costs.

“Houston ISD is doing a tremendous job with their Green School Challenge,” said Tony Napolillo, program manager, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. “They are committed to saving both energy and resources on their campuses, and Green Mountain is delighted to help Wilson Montessori further its green initiatives.”

Green Mountain has made eight other donations to fund solar installations in the Houston area since the start of the Sun Club in 2002.

Celebrate Earth Month in Houston
Earth Day takes place every year on April 22, but why celebrate just one day? Earth Day has turned into a month-long celebration where people all over the world attend events, participate in helping the Earth, and put the environment’s well-being at the top of their priority lists. Many communities across the world come together through different conservation methods including planting trees, recycling and providing educational material on sustainability.

Celebrate Earth Month throughout April at the local events listed below. While there, make sure to stop by the Green Mountain table to learn more about bringing renewable energy to your home or business. Whether you attend one, a few or all of the events, you are sure to have a great time and learn more about reducing your carbon footprint!
Houston events

        DCAC Fitness Convention (4/12-4/14)
        Houston Home and Garden Show (4/ 13 – 4/15)
        Houston Pet Expo (4/14)
        Galveston Grand Kids Festival (4/14)
        Texas Crawfish & Music Festival (4/20 -22, 4/27-29)
        Epicurean Evening (4/21)
        Houston International Festival (4/21-22, 28-29)

About Wilson Montessori School
Woodrow Wilson Montessori School has been educating children through engaging curriculum since 1924. Almost 500 students are enrolled in the prekindergarten through 8th grade Montessori Magnet program. Wilson is Houston ISD’s first and only campus with a complete Montessori curriculum, which provides students with an insightful and purposeful learning environment.
Through the program, students learn about renewable energy, water conservation, waste diversion and gardening. Wilson has a bigger and brighter future with solar. The school has plans to create a solar farm, and science teachers are developing curriculum around the new solar panels.
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM is a program where Green Mountain residential customers have the opportunity to give back to deserving non-profit organizations through the promotion of solar power. Direct monthly contributions from customers go toward the funding of solar installations. Since the program’s founding in 2002, Sun Club members have helped install almost 500kW of solar power, preventing over 3.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. That equals 3.6 million miles not driven or 8.1 million aluminum cans recycled. For more information, visit http://www.gmsunclub.com.

Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions, was founded in 1997 to “change the way power is made.” The company is the longest serving green power marketer in the U.S. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, such as wind, as well as a variety of carbon offset products. Green Mountain’s largest customer is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 14.8 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG), Green Mountain is backed by one of the nation’s largest renewable power producers. For more information, visit http://www.GreenMountain.com.

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