This is a guest post by Crosslands resident Allen Prindle
The Energy Committees at Crosslands and at Kendal at Longwood have long been advocates for the addition of clean solar energy production at Kendal-Crosslands (KCC), and now it is well underway.
The first solar panels at KCC went into operation on September 14, 2023. This included 44 panels at Woolman and 64 panels at Mott Cottages. There are many people to thank for the vision and contributions to add these 108 solar panels. During the period October 1, 2023 to Sept 30, 2024, these panels produced about 48,000 kWh of electricity. It is expected that they will produce a similar amount per year for 20 to 30 years.
The energy produced by any array of solar panels depends on the orientation and tilt of the panels, as well as freedom from shadows of trees or other roofs. Not every roof is equally well suited. And the solar panels produce more in the summer months when there are more hours of direct sunlight.
During the first year of operation, the Crosslands solar panels produced a high of 6,700 kWh in June 2024, and a low of 1,613 kWh in December 2023.
In mid-2024, 12 solar panels were installed on the roof of a carport in lot 10 at Kendal. This project was funded by a resident. The electrical work has been done, but it is not clear whether the system has in fact begun contributing electricity to the Kendal grid.
There will be two solar arrays installed on the roof at the under-construction Kendal Health Center. The first array will include 126 solar panels and is expected to generate about 60,000 kWh per year. The second array will include 86 solar panels and is expected to generate about 42,000 kWh per year. KCC included the cost of the first array in the construction cost of the Kendal Health Center, to which Kendal residents made a significant contribution.
Most of the funds for the second array came from donations from Crosslands residents. When completed these solar energy projects will comprise 332 panels and will produce about 150,000 kWh of electricity per year. This is between one and two percent of the annual electricity use at KCC. These solar arrays help to reduce electricity demand from the grid, and help to reduce CO2 emissions.
We thank all donors toward the solar projects, and hope to add more clean renewable energy in the future.
[A slightly different version of this article was printed in the January 2025 issue of Crosslands Chronicle]
On the Kendal Journey 