Solar for Non-Profits: Wood’s Homes Calgary Invests in a 50 kW Solar System

Reducing Operating Costs While Creating a Visible Example of Sustainability

Wood’s Homes Calgary (Parkdale Campus) is a non-profit organization serving children, young people and families. The organization partnered with Zeno Renewables to install a 50 kW rooftop solar energy system designed to reduce electricity consumption, lower long-term operating costs and support the organization’s environmental stewardship goals.

Completed in September 2026, the project demonstrates how solar for non-profits can deliver benefits beyond energy savings. In addition to generating renewable electricity, the system provides a tangible example of sustainability in action for the young people who stay at and interact with Wood’s Homes.

The system consists of 100 LONGi 500 W solar panels paired with a Solis inverter, providing 50 kW DC / 43.2 kW AC of installed capacity. It is expected to generate approximately 55,471 kWh of renewable electricity annually, offsetting an estimated 15% of the entire campus.

Project at a Glance

Client: Wood’s Homes
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Industry: Solar for Non-Profits
System size: 50 kW DC / 43.2 kW AC
Solar panels: 100 LONGi 500 W modules
Inverters: Solis
Estimated annual production: 55,471 kWh
Estimated electricity offset: 15%
Utility provider: ENMAX
Estimated first-year savings: $9,152
Estimated lifetime savings: $511,430
Project completion: September 15, 2026
Production and performance warranty: 25 years

Making Every Operating Dollar Go Further

For non-profit organizations, reducing operating expenses can mean making more resources available to support their core mission.

Wood’s Homes’ solar installation was designed around three primary objectives: reduce electricity costs, decrease reliance on grid-supplied electricity and support long-term environmental stewardship.

With approximately 55,471 kWh of expected annual solar production, the system is projected to offset roughly 15% of the facility’s electricity consumption while generating an estimated $9,152 in electricity savings in its first year.

More Than $500,000 in Estimated Lifetime Savings

The financial impact of the project extends well beyond its first year.

Wood’s Homes is projected to achieve approximately $511,430 in estimated lifetime electricity savings, turning an ongoing operating expense into a long-term investment in the organization’s facilities.

By purchasing the system outright, Wood’s Homes is investing in an energy-producing asset designed to deliver value for decades while reducing exposure to future electricity costs.

For non-profits operating community facilities, that long-term perspective matters. Dollars that don’t need to be spent on electricity can remain available for the programs, people and services at the heart of the organization.

Turning Solar Into a Sustainability Learning Opportunity

The value of solar at Wood’s Homes isn’t limited to what happens on the electricity bill.

The installation also creates an opportunity to make sustainability more tangible for the young people Wood’s Homes supports. Instead of renewable energy being an abstract concept, solar generation is happening on the building around them every day.

The system can serve as a real-world sustainability educational tool, helping spark conversations about where electricity comes from, how renewable energy works and the choices organizations can make to reduce their environmental impact.

Over its operating life, the installation has the potential to become both part of the facility’s infrastructure and a visible example of environmental stewardship for the next generation.

Supporting Environmental Stewardship with On-Site Solar

By generating electricity directly at its Calgary Parkdale Campus, Wood’s Homes can now supply a portion of its annual energy requirements from its own rooftop.

The project connects the organization’s environmental goals with a practical investment that produces measurable results: less grid electricity consumption, lower operating costs and decades of renewable electricity generation.

For other community organizations considering solar, Wood’s Homes demonstrates that sustainability initiatives can support both environmental and financial objectives.

Built for Long-Term Performance

The Wood’s Homes system uses 100 high-efficiency LONGi 500 W modules paired with Solis inverter technology to deliver reliable commercial-scale solar generation.

The system is backed by a 25-year production and performance warranty, supporting Wood’s Homes’ long-term investment in renewable energy.

Completed on September 15, 2026, the project represents an investment not only in the organization’s facility, but in how Wood’s Homes uses energy for decades to come.