Overbrook School for the Blind

Project Details

Where: Philadelphia, PA
Dedication Date: May 10, 2019
Donation Type: Renewable energy: 71kW rooftop solar array; Education: Sustainability curriculum for the students; Building design & construction: Fund applications for both LEED and NetZero Building certifications
Size: 71kW PV solar system
Claim to Fame: Solar array providing 100% of the annual electricity needs for the M. Christine Murphy Horticulture Education Center.
Project Overview
With the help of a $201,480 grant from the Sun Club, power for the existing gymnasium and the soon-to-be-constructed horticulture and education center will be sustained by solar power created on-site using a 71kW photovoltaic system.
The school serves 200 students through its mission of developing and delivering education that enhances the options available for persons with visual impairments. Students will soon have access to a fully accessible, adaptive and sustainable horticulture and education center, which will serve as the on-campus headquarters for the school’s award-winning Farm to Table program. The center will sustain 100% of the school’s salad bar through the use of vertical hydroponic systems, high-efficiency misting and irrigation systems, and a rainwater capture system.