Oryana Community Co-Op: A Rooftop Solar Panel Case Study
Since 1973, Oryana Community Co-Op has been a regional pioneer in sustainability and social responsibility. The organization remains committed to serving the community and leading local businesses in putting people and the environment first.
Keen Technical Solutions has worked side-by-side with Oryana for over a decade, supporting the co-op’s exciting growth with sustainable development and energy efficiency consulting from refrigeration to generation. In 2024, we reconnected with Oryana for a multi-phase project that included rooftop solar and LED lighting at Oryana West and lighting updates at Oryana East.
The Projects
Keen installed solar panels at Oryana East several years ago, and the organization’s leadership team has had rooftop solar panels at the top of its list for Oryana West for some time. Keen helped identify available rebates and grants to offset the acquisition and sourcing costs. Our energy consultants designed an 83 kWh solar PV array for the location and worked with Oryana to complete the installation with minimal impact on daily operations.
Both locations were also scheduled for LED lighting updates. Our team researched a number of rebates and grant opportunities and sourced the right equipment to meet Oryana’s goals. The scale of the project facilitated competitive pricing from the manufacturer and helped our team deliver substantial project savings.
The Results
Keen’s energy consultants had high forecasts for the projects’ potential energy offset, and the results speak for themselves. The aggregate energy savings for both systems will offset 228,783 annual kWh, the equivalent energy use of more than twenty residential homes and the saving of 147 trees.
Oryana CEO Sarah Christensen and Keen's TJ Brown.
Discover the Power of Rooftop Solar
We’re proud of our long working relationship with Oryana and our role in the organization’s success. Keen is committed to helping Northern Michigan businesses benefit from reliable, affordable renewable energy opportunities and energy efficiency improvements. See how Keen can help your company grow; speak with a Keen energy consultant today!