Kress library in De Pere to go solar

From an article by McLean Bennett in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

DE PERE — A renewable energy project in De Pere is intended to cut energy costs and educate the public about sustainability.

Workers likely will begin installing about 90 solar panels on the roof of the Kress Family Branch of the Brown County Library, 333 N. Broadway, in September or October, said Randy Rake, chairman of SEEDs for De Pere, which stands for Social, Ecological and Economic Development.

Other Brown County libraries are increasing energy efficiency by replacing light bulbs and cleaning air vents.

The De Pere library was targeted for the solar panel project because it is in an ideal spot to capture sunlight and because SEEDs for De Pere helped spearhead the project, said Lynn Stainbrook, director of the Brown County Library System. The project's focus will be educating people about sustainability.

The solar panels likely will be most effective in the summer, when days are longer and there is no snow covering them, Rake said.

The panels are expected to reduce the library's annual energy use by about 6 percent, saving about $87,000 over 30 years, Rake said.

"That's our best guess," he said, explaining that some factors, including future increases in energy costs, could mean the panels save even more money than expected.

The project will include an informational kiosk in the library to educate people about renewable energy.