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Power To Save: Solar Energy System at Hospital

MAHONING TOWNSHIP — Installing solar panels on your roof can save money on electric bills, but for Geisinger Health system, it was also about being enviro...
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MAHONING TOWNSHIP -- Installing solar panels on your roof can save money on electric bills, but for Geisinger Health system, it was also about being environmentally friendly and having the Power To Save.

Looking at the roof of Janet Weis Children's Hospital from ground level, you won't notice anything different. But stand on top of the building and you'll see solar panels.

The solar energy system was installed at Janet Weis Children's Hospital near Danville last month.

Geisinger Health System got a grant from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund for the project.

"We're fortunate enough to receive $100,000 from them to do this installation."

Al Neuner is the vice president of facility operations at Geisinger Health System. He says the children's hospital uses much more energy during the day so the solar panels come in handy.

There are close to 150 solar panels on the roof of this hospital and Neuner says they supply 20 percent of the electricity to Janet Weis Children's Hospital.

"The sunlight is obviously a very clean, non-pollutant generator, which in our studies, we've shown that as we make clean energy there is no pollution but that has an impact on health," Neuner said.

Because of that impact on health, Neuner says it was a no-brainer to install the solar panels on the roof of Janet Weis Children's Hospital where the kids are. He says the solar panels save the hospital about $5,000 a year, which is not a significant savings, but the health aspect is worth it for the patients.

"The environmental aspects are so great that we felt compelled to do it."

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