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2007 Minnesota Solar Tour
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Linden
Hills Co-op
2813 West 43rd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55410
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Linden Hills Co-op is a great example of a
community solar project — a solar energy installation that
is driven by a community of people. Through Linden Hills Co-op's
"Rays the Roof" campaign, they were able to both bring
in funds for this $83,000 project and raise awareness about solar
energy.
Linden Hills Co-op's guiding values include
using and promoting earth-friendly, sustainable products; encouraging
activism on sustainability, health, and nutrition-related issues;
and building community in the Linden Hills neighborhood. They were
excited by the possibility of becoming both a demonstration site
for a successful solar power installation, and by serving as the
focal point for a system that was essentially built by members of
the community through their time, financial contributions, and enthusiastic
support. A community solar project fit with their values in so many
ways because they were able to reduce their environmental footprint
while proving that alternative energy is a viable alternative.
As a member-driven cooperative, the fundraising
drive was led by a core group of co-op board members, member-owners,
and staff, who did everything from knocking on doors and staffing
information tables at festivals to organizing a fundraising concert
and writing grant applications. Having good information to hand
out at events and at the co-op was essential, as was keeping the
co-op's staff well-informed about fundraising progress.
They learned from other similar projects,
and had great advice from a variety of people in the community.
In the process, Linden Hills Co-op prepared their site to be as
efficient as possible by taking the advice of two separate energy
audits and eliminating incandescent lighting, upgrading light fixtures,
upgrading refrigeration systems, and installing a refrigerant rack,
door misers, and cooler curtains. They also joined the Saver Switch
program.
Completed in the summer of 2007, the installation
provides approximately 15% of the building's energy needs.
System Components
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9.18 kW passive solar, 54 170-watt
modules, mounted on 18 roof curbs |
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