Renewable Energy Cuts Utility Costs at Lander Senior Center

The Lander Senior Center provides low-cost meals to roughly 150 seniors every day. It also offers rides, social events, and a variety of health programs. In 2021, the Senior Center’s electric bill was $1,100 and rising steadily—despite upgrades to heating, cooling, and other systems. Revenue, which comes mainly through grant funding, was not keeping up with the increased costs. Rather than hiking prices for seniors on a fixed budget, staffers came up with a more sustainable solution: install a renewable energy system and save $5,000 annually. With funding from LOR, which helped to purchase rooftop solar panels as well as two electric vehicle charging stations, the Senior Center was able to leverage additional community funds. Now, as Senior Center staff prepare to shift to an all-electric vehicle fleet, they’re able to keep providing low-cost, essential services to the hundreds of community members who rely on them every day.