Non-profit also receives Sun Club Solar Leaders Award in recognition for its community leadership
YONKERS, NY –Greyston Bakery began baking sweet solar sustenance today with the dedication of its first solar array, donated by the Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™. The array was funded by a $33,000 donation to the bakery’s non-profit arm, Greyston Foundation. The Sun Club is a unique program enabling Green Mountain Energy Company residential customers, including many in Yonkers, to provide solar power and educational information to non-profit organizations, like Greyston Foundation.
The 8.82-kilowatt solar array is made up of 36 solar panels and measures more than 1,000 square feet on the roof of the bakery. The array is expected to generate about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of pollution-free energy and avoid 11,800 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. The amount of CO2 avoided annually is the equivalent of not driving 13,100 miles!
“Just when I thought our brownies couldn’t get any better, we’re now using a clean source of energy to bake them, thanks to the Sun Club,” said Mike Brady, President & CEO, Greyston Bakery. “We look forward to celebrating our 31st year in operation providing more support to the community through our energy cost savings, and we are grateful to Green Mountain and its customers for this donation.”
Greyston is a model for social enterprise and community development, striving to improve their contributions to their community and the environment through more sustainable business practices. The Greyston Bakery relies on electricity and hot water to run its operations and will become more efficient with the help of solar power. An educational sign will be installed in the bakery to teach employees and visitors, including those taking tours of the bakery, about the importance of cleaner energy and responsible business practices.
Greyston Bakery is the first recipient of the Sun Club Solar Leaders Award, which includes participation in the Solar Leaders Circle. The Solar Leaders Circle is a group of exceptional Sun Club donation recipients who seamlessly incorporate their solar power into their initiatives and serve as a role model for organizations looking to adopt more sustainable practices.
“The Sun Club is pleased to support and recognize the work of the Greyston Foundation with today’s donation and the presentation of the Sun Club Solar Leaders Award,” said Tony Napolillo, Sun Club program manager, Green Mountain Energy Company. “Train travelers commuting inbound to Manhattan through Yonkers will be able to see the solar panels on the roof of the bakery making the Foundation literally a shining example of the benefits of solar energy.”
This is the third solar donation that has been made to New York non-profits since the Sun Club New York chapter was founded in 2011. The other recipients include GrowNYC Union Square Greenmarket and Riverside Park Green Outlook Project.
Pictures of the donation will be added to Green Mountain Energy’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenmtnenergy/
Celebrate Earth Month in New York
While most of the planet celebrates Earth Day only on April 22nd, Green Mountain likes to celebrate the Earth every day. Throughout the month of April, Green Mountain is celebrating sustainability and energy efficiency with special events in each of their markets. Their month-long conservation activities include online and in-person events in the New York area, where they’ll be connecting more closely with community members and the environment!
Didn’t think recycling, solar arrays, and renewables could be fun? Try celebrating Earth Month with Green Mountain! Learn how to cut down energy use and make sure what is used is powered by renewable energy by visiting the Green Mountain table at these upcoming Earth Month events:
- Brooklyn Flea Market: throughout April
Declare whether you’re an eco-champion or energy waster by taking our quiz at www.facebook.com/GreenMountainEnergyCompany. Plus, get tips and tricks to reduce your usage and help the environment by visiting our Energy Saver Center online at www.greenmountainenergy.com/customer-service-center/energy-saver-center.
Greyston Bakery and Greyston Foundation
Grounded in a whole-person approach, Greyston Foundation is a pioneer in social enterprise, creating jobs and providing integrated programs for individuals and their families to move forward on their path to self-sufficiency. Greyston Bakery is a $10 million Benefit Corporation that trains and employs more than 75 people who face barriers to employment. Greyston Bakery operates with a triple bottom line, prioritizing profits, the environment and social contributions and recently became New York State’s first Benefit Corporation. For more information on the Greyston Foundation, visit www.greyston.org. For more information on the Greyston Bakery, visit www.greystonbakery.com.
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM is a program where Green Mountain residential customers in New York, Pennsylvania and Texas 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 nearly 550 kilowatts of solar power, preventing over 843,300 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year. That’s like not driving 941,000 miles or 420 households turning off their lights for a year. For more information, visit www.gmsunclub.com.
Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain is the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions. Founded in 1997, the company celebrates over 15 years delivering on the mission to “change the way power is made” and is the longest serving green power marketer in the nation. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 19.4 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com.
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