Marcus JCC Goes Solar
As part of its ongoing green initiative, the MJCCA will be installing solar panels on the roof of the Besser Gymnastics Pavilion next year.
The Marcus JCC will soon have its first solar panels. As part of its ongoing green initiative, the MJCCA will be installing solar panels on the roof of the Besser Gymnastics Pavilion next year, said MJCCA CEO Jared Powers. The installation is made possible through an anonymous $50,000 donation that was facilitated by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
The green building effort is also the result of a partnership between Solarize Atlanta, a community-based group purchasing campaign that makes solar energy more affordable and accessible to Atlanta residents, and Hannah Solar, which will install the panels.
“We look forward to expanding this solar initiative and identifying additional high-impact opportunities for reducing operating costs and environmental impact,” Powers said.
As the MJCCA continues to “green” its buildings, site and operations at the Zaban Park campus, it plans to implement further recommendations made by Solarize Atlanta to support and maintain environmental sustainability. The Solarize Atlanta program helps with the technical aspects of choosing solar panels and getting them installed.
“The system that we will install … allows the building to use energy from the sun first before pulling in any additional grid energy to power the building,” said Hannah Solar’s Trey Gibbs. “There is no battery storage. The energy gets generated and consumed immediately afterward in real time.
“The annual solar production will be approximately 30 percent of the building’s consumption,” Gibbs continued. “Three out of every 10 days are powered by the sun. The MJCCA should see a 30 percent reduction in its power bill, or $6,900 in savings annually.”
“In addition to the MJCCA’s new solar installations, the agency will continue to assess its facilities to identify and implement energy, water and resource-efficient upgrades, and adopt additional best-management practices for sustainability,” Powers said. “The MJCCA is committed to transforming how the agency operates, establishing the MJCCA as a strong environmental steward and leader in the community.”
Since 1951, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been connecting the passions of philanthropists with the purposes of nonprofits doing that work. With 67 years serving the 23-county Atlanta region and a robust team of experts, the Community Foundation manages the behind-the-scenes details, empowering donors to focus on the joy of giving. The Community Foundation is a top-20 community foundation nationally with about $1.1 billion in current assets and is Georgia’s second largest foundation. Through its services and leadership on community issues, the Foundation received more than $144 million from donors last year and distributed more than $100 million in 2017 to support nonprofits throughout the region and beyond. This year, Charity Navigator named the Community Foundation a four-star-rated nonprofit, its top distinction.
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