Earth Day brings a global call to action for environmental preservation while forging a path toward a brighter, environmental, and sustainable future. At The Cabbage Patch, we are committed to a steadfast dedication to responsible stewardship that drives our mission. Inspired by Earth Day’s ethos, we embrace innovation to safeguard our planet for future generations.
In the tapestry of our historic journey, one thread that currently shines particularly bright: is using our resources wisely. One way that we are doing this is through the use of solar energy. It’s a tale of passion, vision, and the profound impact of community collaboration.
In 2019, Eli Levine, The Patch’s Facilities IT & Manager, attended a solar panel efficiency seminar hosted by the Louisville Climate Action Network (LCAN). Recognizing the potential of solar energy and driven by his passion for ecology and the environment, Eli spearheaded efforts to bring solar power to The Cabbage Patch. Along with Cabbage Patch staff, volunteers, and The Cabbage Patch Facilities committee, positive change became a reality.
With support from Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, along with their transformative 2Kw for $5k program, the vision became a reality in 2022 when The Patch welcomed a 2Kw solar array onto its roof.
“Solar isn’t just an investment; it’s a commitment to self-sufficiency and a sustainable future that will help The Patch financially by lowering utility bill costs,” Eli affirmed.
It certainly has been a good investment thus far. Harnessing the power of the sun, The Patch’s solar panels have become more than just fixtures on our roof—they’re dynamic energy generators with a mission.
To put it into perspective, since its installation the solar array has generated a staggering 4.74 megawatt-hours of electricity. That’s the equivalent of illuminating our Roosevelt Chin Gymnasium for a whopping 2,351 hours—translating to a year and a half of our usual daily usage pattern (that’s 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, totaling 1,500 hours annually). In fact, just 1 hour of radiant full sun is all it takes to light up our beloved Roosevelt Chin Gymnasium for 1 hour, with a surplus even to set the mood with some musical tunes!
But the impact doesn’t stop there. Beyond just helping power our facility, these panels are environmental superheroes. So far, they have offset 4.72 tons of CO2 from entering our atmosphere—that’s equivalent to planting a lush forest of 175 trees!
Beyond the financial benefits, our solar panels serve as an educational tool, inspiring youth to understand the importance of God’s creation and environmental stewardship.
“As stewards of the Earth, it falls upon us to illuminate the path toward sustainability, and we must educate, empower, and guide the next generation,” Eli states. “I believe in promoting responsible stewardship of the resources and talents entrusted to us, and solar is a great way to reduce our impact on creation.”
Through the solar panels, The Cabbage Patch will empower our youth and help them understand the deep-rooted interconnectedness between things.
“For example, if they understand that the sun powers our solar panels which then in turn gives us electricity to power the gym they play in, they can hopefully start to make connections with other things in their lives and see how one thing can in turn impact another,” Eli said. “Hopefully, in the end, this understanding will help the youth make better decisions in their own lives, knowing there is a deep winding interconnectedness between things, and that each decision affects another.”
By equipping our youth to make informed decisions, we fortify the very fabric of our mission and vision to empower youth and their families to achieve success and create a better world. In essence, celebrating Earth Day every day.
RESOURCES
Louisville Climate Action Network (LCAN) – https://www.louisvillecan.org
Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light – https://www.kentuckyipl.org/