MONROE – The Ponds Condominium Association in Monroe has partnered with Distributed Resource Ventures (DRV) to develop a solar panel system to benefit its clubhouse.
The Ponds consists of 577 residential units off of Waterside Boulevard. The goal of the project is to provide a substantive cost reduction for energy in the 55-plus community while maintaining, or even enhancing, its aesthetics.
The Pond’s board, management and several community members formed an ad hoc committee that performed research to determine the best option for its residents. Several months later, in consultation with CoolSys Energy Design Consulting Engineers, DRV was invited to the community to meet with the board and management, according to the statement.
The Ponds will benefit from lower monthly energy expenses for its clubhouse with no capital expenditure, according to information provided by The Ponds. Currently, the Ponds budgets approximately $98,000 per year for electric service to the clubhouse and common area utilities, according to Raymond Barnes, community manager at The Ponds. Residents are responsible for one third of their own individual utility usage, he said.
“As a result of retrofitting the clubhouse lighting to LED fixtures, the community has already saved almost $23,000 on electricity from January to August of 2018,” he said in an interview. “The solar equipment is projected to reduce costs almost 47 percent over the first year of operation and average approximately 32 percent savings over the following 20 years.”
When completed, the project will enhance the community with an integrated car-port and a pergola solar system. The structures will offer protection from the elements for both cars and residents and be supported by black powder-coated posts topped with bi-facial glass solar panels, according to the statement.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Oct. 15. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
