St. Denis

Louisville's Newest Commercial-Scale Solar Hot Water Project Will Assist Senior Residents in Saving Money For Years to Come 

SunWind Power Systems recently installed a solar hot water system in Louisville at St. Denis Senior Apartments, a renovation project headed by Housing Partnership Inc. (HPI) and Catholic Charities which will provide affordable, energy-efficient housing for the elderly. This is one of the largest solar hot water systems installed in Louisville to date. Solar collectors mounted on the rooftop will heat water for the 34-unit apartment building and help reduce utility costs.

The addition of a solar hot water fits in with the both non-profit organizations goal to keep utility costs low in order to make it affordable for renters. The advantage of a renewable energy system is that the up-front investment in solar equipment will pay dividends for decades as residents receive a significant portion of their hot water through free, clean energy from the sun. The decision to invest in a renewable energy system will shield residents from an expected 4-8% annual increase in purchased energy costs.

Depending on the actual increases, the annual gas savings provided by the solar hot water system could reach $4,300-$7,500 per year during the life of the system. This system will also have a strong environmental benefit by keeping more than 450,000 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the life of the system.

"Utility costs make up a sizeable portion of the monthly expenses for our residents. Using free energy from the sun to reduce hot water costs will be a great value for years to come. The measurable benefit to the environment is just as important as the reduction of utility costs this system is truly a win-win solution for this project." GABE FRITZ Project Manager, The Housing Partnership, Inc.