Left: Solar Shade Panel Progress, Center: David Gibbs demonstrates bike power, Right: A construction day!
This spring, the NYC Compost Project hosted by Earth Matter, invested funds raised thru our collaboration with Governors Island Alliance (GIA) corporate groups’ work days. We built a wooden canopy (that doubles as a shade structure for animal care volunteers) for our brand new solar panel array. The system was designed and installed by solar contractor, R. David Gibbs.
Earth Matter determined the need to have an off-grid electrical source because from time to time the Compost Learning Center has experienced disruptions based on construction of the new park and electrical upgrades to the Island. Our Aerated Static Pile (ASP) system of composting depends on small, regular bursts of forced air, supplied by blowers and is regulated by timers. Our new solar power system ensures our bacterial and fungal families of microbes get the regular installments of air they need to thrive—processing organics as a way of feeding their colonial communities—which number in the trillions. FYI, this ASP system is used for about 90% of the 600,000 lbs. of organics that we process annually.
Our 1,000 watts solar array consists of 4 panels, and a 6,000 watt inverter/charger, batteries, as well as a people-powered bicycle generator that sends additional energy to the battery as a back-up on grey days.
Special shout out to our volunteer designers and builders! Dan Yaffet, Brendan Tatao, Mary Ng, Joyce Ma, Angela DeRoberts, Frederick Phillips, Pablo Garcia, Ilyse Kazar, and David Granik.
Join us with hostesses Angela DeRoberts and Ilyse Kazar, for a walk through of our beautiful and fully functioning solar power system on August 30 from 1-2:30 pm!
See how our system is set up and how it works, ask questions, and take a spin on the bike to help the sun and our Center with your great energy.