Solar Champion Stories

Boys & Girls Club Cuts Carbon Footprint: 3 Arrays to Save Nonprofit Nearly $850,000

Outside Stebbins Family Hall. Photo credit: ReVision Energy.

Manchester, N.H. - The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester has transitioned to solar energy. ReVision Energy installed 408 solar panels this summer on three rooftops, at the Union Street Clubhouse in Manchester and the Pool House and Stebbins Family Hall buildings at Camp Foster in Bedford.

Collectively, the arrays will produce close to 150,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The arrays will offset over 152,000 pounds of carbon pollution each year, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 81 acres of forests or the emissions from the consumption of 160 barrels of oil.

The solar projects were financed by impact partners through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. The PPA allows the nonprofit to access solar power at no upfront cost and lock in electricity costs while reducing its carbon footprint and enabling the impact partners to make community investments that align with their commitment to environmental sustainability.

G2c4ma4ff86863b544058bd79e73d661312f

Lower left: Stebbins Family Hall array. Upper right: Pool House array. Camp Foster in Bedford. Photo credit: Boys & Girls Club of Manchester.

The agreement includes a buyout clause after 5 years. The projects are expected to save $845,000 over the life of the systems if the nonprofit exercises a future purchase option.

"This transition to solar makes sense for the future of our club and will help to significantly reduce operating costs. More importantly, it's a great opportunity for our kids to learn about the importance of sustainable energy," said Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester.

The organization is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $5.85 million to fund renovations at Camp Foster and an addition at the Union Street Clubhouse in order to serve more kids. The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester hopes to raise $650,000 before the end of December to bring the campaign to an end. Donations are now closed.

ABOUT REVISION ENERGY

ReVision Energy is a local, employee-owned company on a mission to accelerate New England's clean energy transition from fossil fuels to solar energy. As a Certified B Corporation, ReVision is part of a global movement using business as a force for good to solve social and environmental challenges.

G2c4m93c770b70f01410d98268c4a6aab59f

Union Street Clubhouse array in Manchester. Photo credit: ReVision Energy.

ReVision consistently ranks among the best solar companies in the country and has been recognized as the #1 Rooftop Installer in New England from 2017 through 2019 by Solar Power World Magazine. The company has completed over 8,000 solar installations and was named "Business of the Year" by Business NH Magazine in 2018. See our projects at our Solar Projects Page.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MANCHESTER

The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester is one of the 53 founding organizations of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Manchester club was incorporated in 1907 and has an annual membership of more than 2,600 boys and girls. The organization operates programs at three sites throughout the greater Manchester area.