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Green Works Orlando Green Updates

October 2009

Keep Orlando Beautiful Receives $10,000 Grant

Keep Orlando Beautiful received a $10,000 grant from national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc. as part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Waste Management that encourages local solutions to improving community environments. Keep Orlando Beautiful will use the grant for an event recycling program called Recycle Orlando. The Think Green grant will fund the purchase of a recycling kit including a trailer, recycling bins, carts and supplies for use at local events.

In the grant competition, more than 575 local affiliates of Keep America Beautiful were challenged to present proposals for ambitious projects representing a wide array of stewardship, community outreach and educational projects. Keep Orlando Beautiful’s Recycle Orlando project was one of 15 winners nationwide.

October 9

The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) is installing photovoltaic solar system panels on utility poles along Curry Ford Road to help generate power and improve the electrical grid. Together the panels can generate up to 2 kilowatts, about enough to power a small home.

“Through projects like this, OUC continues to investigate and evaluate various alternative power sources that can help us continue to deliver reliable, affordable and clean electricity to our customers,” said Byron Knibbs, Vice President of Sustainable Services for OUC.

The solar panels will also enhance the electrical grid by monitoring voltage and electrical consumption and communicating that back to the utility control center. The panels were developed by Petra Solar which worked in collaboration with the University of Central Florida.

The pole-mounted solar system is just one of several clean energy initiatives being undertaken by OUC. OUC also offers solar and thermal programs that help lower the upfront costs of solar for residential and commercial customers. For more information, contact OUC’s Conservation Support at 407.236.9603 or visit OUC online.