Austin Children’s Shelter Receives PV System Donation

AUSTIN, Texas — In April, Austin-based Circular Energy installed a 10,000-watt solar photovoltaic (PV) system consisting of 40 solar panels and a Fronius IG Plus V inverter to the roof of the Austin Children’s Shelter’s gymnasium. The gymnasium is the largest and has the highest energy usage of the campus’ eight buildings.

The PV system was donated by Portage, Ind.-headquartered Fronius USA; San Jose, Calif.-headquartered Sun Wize Technologies Inc.; Circular Energy and Austin-based Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody.

The 78-bed facility provides services that include emergency shelter, teen parent programs with parent education and support, a transitional living program for youth ages 17 to 22, residential respite care and Foster in Austin, a foster care placement agency.

Several mental and physical health care services are provided as part of these programs. The emergency shelter provides critical services including individual and group therapy, as well as medical, vision, dental, psychiatric and behavioral health care. The teen parent program teaches positive parenting skills that help break the cycle of abuse and neglect. The respite care program gives children with emotional or developmental disabilities relief through a contract with Integral Care.

“As a nonprofit organization that receives state reimbursement for only one-third of what we spend caring for kids, we are always looking for ways to save,” said Kelly White, the shelter’s executive director, in a statement. “We are so grateful for this unique gift, which will benefit the organization not just this year, but for many years to come.”

The installation will provide significant energy savings to the shelter. The Fronius IG Plus V inverter is suitable for both commercial and residential applications and is available from 3 kilowatts to 12 kilowatts. It is capable of a maximum efficiency of 96.2 percent.

“The Austin Children’s Shelter is making a tremendous impact on the lives of children, and it has been rewarding for our team to spend time educating the kids on solar and learning about their lives, desires and dreams,” said JC Shore, CEO of Circular Energy, in a statement. “The shelter’s work inspired us to also help make an impact by designing and installing a solar system on the shelter’s campus, so they experience more efficient operating costs for the next 25-plus years.”