Ryder-Walker HQ Becomes Energy Independent

If you subscribe to our e-newsletter, than you recently learned that Ryder-Walker’s main headquarters is now energy independent. We’re really proud of this, and we’re also the first hiking tour company that we know of to produce essentially 100% of our own power.

How It Works

Ryder-Walker recently purchased 16 solar panels through Clean Energy Collective’s community solar program. Our 16 panels are part of a much larger community solar array (‘solar farm’) that lies one and-a-half hours to the west of our office in the Paradox valley of southwestern Colorado. The array harnesses 300 average days of sunshine per year and is currently the largest in the region.

Unlike traditional offset programs, where companies purchase “credits” for renewable energy, we actually own our own photovoltaic (PV) panels, and we receive credits for the energy produced. The credits appear on our power bill and reduce the amount that we pay each month.

Analyzing our annual power consumption, we discovered that we need just over 15 panels to supply the electricty needs of the Ryder-Walker main office. The fact that we own 16 panels, means that we actually produce more power than we consume. That said; we only recently hooked up to the system, so we’re just beginning to collect real-time data.

Fortunately, Clean Energy Collective makes it easy to analyze energy production data. We can log in to our Clean Energy Collective account to see real-time solar production and bill credit history.

Added Bonus

The purchase of our panels also includes 100 percent maintenance and operations for the next 50 years. We don’t have to climb rooftops, and we don’t have to scrape snow off the panels!

Partners

This program is possible because of Clean Energy Collective; our local power company, the San Miguel Power Association; and a matching funds program sponsored by the Town of Mountain Village, CO—where the Ryder-Walker office is based.

Mountain Village offered a per-panel discount for community and business members in an effort to encourage homeowners and businesses to purchase clean energy. We jumped at the chance, and we’re also proud to announce that Ryder-Walker is the first business in Mountain Village to take advantage of the Mountain Village Match Program and to support our community’s local solar energy initiative.

Read about other Ryder-Walker initatives to protect the planet by clicking here: www.ryderwalker.com/sustainable-travel.html

Happy Holidays!

Photo by Catherine Pranskatis