Sharp and Namaste Solar Electric Deliver Sharp Solar Arrays to Colorado’s Innovative Nyland Community
Planned cohousing neighborhood uses clean solar power to meet more than 50 percent of its electrical needs
Huntington Beach, CA; November 26, 2007
Source: Sharp Solar / press release
http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/press_releases/0,2484,7-2,00.html
Sharp, the world’s leading provider of solar electric solutions, is collaborating with Namaste Solar Electric to bring solar power to Colorado’s Nyland neighborhood. Nyland, in Lafayette, Colorado, was built in 1990 as one of the first cohousing communities in the country. Namaste Solar will install 23 Sharp OnEnergyTM solar systems in the community by the end of 2007 – 22 on homes, and one on the community-owned and operated Wood Shop. Sharp’s OnEnergy solar electric system blends seamlessly into existing building designs. It uses a simplified, flexible mounting system – available only from Sharp – to make installation faster, easier and more cost-effective.
“The Nyland community’s commitment to solar demonstrates true environmental stewardship that can be emulated by communities across the country,” said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “This commitment to solar is great for the Nyland community, great for the environment, and great for the state of Colorado. By harvesting Colorado’s abundant sunlight and adding solar power to their homes and common buildings, Nyland residents are realizing tremendous savings on their utility bills, while staying true to their values.”
Nyland is a cohousing community of 42 private homes, built by Wonderland Hill Development Company, located in a rural setting six miles outside of Boulder, Colorado with an expansive view of the Rocky Mountains. There are approximately 135 resident members with varied backgrounds, careers, ages and views that share meals, meetings, workshops and miscellaneous events at the common house, a centerpiece of the neighborhood.
“Wonderland Hill is proud that our Nyland homeowners have decided to add clean, reliable solar power,” said Jim Leach, president of Wonderland Hill Development Company. “Making smart use of renewable energy on homes and common structures is yet another way to enhance this successful, sustainable community.”
Namaste Solar Electric is a values-based, employee owned solar electric company dedicated to the betterment of the planet by bringing clean, reliable, and affordable renewable energy technologies to homes, businesses and nonprofits throughout the Front Range. Integrating both holistic and traditional business methods, Namaste Solar is currently the #1 solar electric company in Colorado*. With more than 350 solar electric systems installed since 2005, Namaste Solar’s work will offset more than 4100 tons of CO2.
“We’re thrilled to have deployed solar arrays in this creative neighborhood that has integrated an environmental ethic and sustainable solutions into its design and construction,” said Namaste Solar co-owner Blake Jones. “Nyland is a wonderful cohousing community that effectively works solar into its collective environmental consciousness,” added Stephen Kane, co-owner of Namaste Solar.
Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group, based in Huntington Beach, California, is a unit of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is the world market leader in solar cell production, and offers both standard and integrated roof modules for home applications. Sharp also is the U.S. market leader and maintains solar panel assembly operations at its manufacturing facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The solar manufacturing facility assembles a variety of panels for residential and commercial installations.
Further information on Sharp’s commitment to solar energy, its product line and the ways in which Sharp makes it easy to go solar is available online at www.solar.sharpusa.com. Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan’s Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of one-of-a-kind home entertainment products, appliances, networked multifunctional office solutions, solar energy solutions and mobile communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS® Liquid Crystal Televisions, 1-Bit™ digital audio products, SharpVision® projection products, Insight® Microwave Drawers®, IMAGER™ digital multifunctional systems, and Notevision® multimedia projectors. For more information visit Sharp Electronics Corporation at www.sharpusa.com