Projects and Programs - The Shade Tree
The first Green Chips project, in cooperation with the Nevada Conservation League, is a Solar Energy installation and energy efficiency audit and retrofit at The Shade Tree, a woman’s shelter and prominent Las Vegas regional non‐profit organization.

Shade Tree’s electric bills are currently in the range of $5,000 per month, and the energy produced from the installation of solar panels and saved by improving energy efficiency is expected to reduce that bill by up to 10%. At a time when the demand for Shade Tree’s services are at an all‐time peak, saving up to $500 per month on energy costs will provide significant help toward the shelter’s mission of serving the community needs.

The project was initiated by Nevada Conservation League to promote the advantages of renewable energy and the simple steps that regional homeowners, businesses and non‐profits can take to save energy and improve the area’s long‐term environmental sustainability. The solar panels and installation were donated by Bombard Electric, LLC, the leading solar PV contractor in the state of Nevada, with over 20 Megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems installed. The solar panels were installed on the roof of the animal shelter building at The Shade Tree, and are already operational.

Green Chips is paying for the full energy audit that is currently being conducted, and will cover the costs of energy efficiency retrofits such as sealing ductwork and installing insulation, up to a total cost of $20,000. Green Chips is also coordinating the donation of labor to minimize expenses associated with the energy efficiency retrofits. Local 525 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters is participating in the audit to help improve water conservation by identifying and sealing any potential water leaks.

The retrofits and repairs are being performed on the main building of The Shade Tree. Although that building is only 9 years, a preliminary analysis prior to the complete energy audit indicates that energy efficiency measures can save up to 3 – 5% of the current electric cost, a significant component of the up to 10% savings expected from the complete project.

Green Chips selected this project as the first demonstration program not only to provide a significant benefit to a leading community resource, but also to highlight the fact that simple steps to save energy and to promote energy sustainability can be undertaken by almost any homeowner, business or nonprofit in the Las Vegas region at little cost.

Shade Tree Solar and Energy Efficiency Project Partners

• Nevada Conservation League
• Green Chips
• Bombard Electric, LLC
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 525