Skyline Innovations and WGL Holdings, Inc. Deliver Savings to Annapolis Public Housing with Solar Water Heating

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyline Innovations and WGL Holdings, Inc., today announced plans to finance and install solar water heating systems across 11 multifamily public housing buildings in Annapolis, MD. Over the life of the 10-year contract, the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) will realize a utility rate savings of 30 percent. The project will help taxpayers save money and reduce residents' utility bills.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120228/PH60632 )

"This clean, reliable system will save funds for the HACA by providing a fixed discount on its utility rate for water heating," said Skyline Innovations CEO Zach Axelrod. "We are generating savings for taxpayers while helping members of the community who are in need, which makes this endeavor so important and exciting for Skyline."

Skyline's project investor WGL Holdings financed this 180 panel solar system for Harbor House and Glenwood Highrise, two of HACA's six public housing communities, which together house approximately 2,000 people. Construction will commence in March. The systems are expected to be operating by early June.

"Last year Maryland expanded its definition of 'solar' beyond photovoltaic to include solar water heating as a technology eligible to generate renewable energy credits," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley.  "We are excited to see firms like Skyline grow as a result, and in doing so, deliver meaningful energy savings to Marylanders."

In addition to installing the panels on 11 buildings, Skyline will provide monitoring and maintenance services for the 10-year contract term. These systems will save 172 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

"Going solar with Skyline is a smart choice for our residents and Maryland taxpayers," said HACA Executive Director Vince Leggett. "By lowering our operating costs and providing clean energy, Skyline helps support our goal of ensuring availability of affordable housing and a better quality of life for our residents. Going solar also fits into our 'Pathways to Opportunities' initiative, which builds partnerships with residents, community leaders and community-based organizations founded on the common goals we share."  

SKYLINE INNOVATIONS

Skyline Innovations guarantees customers' savings by providing a fixed discount to their utility rates for water heating. This complete customer care finances, installs, monitors and maintains clean, reliable solar water heating systems at no upfront cost. Founded in 2009, the company is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.skylineinnovations.com.

WGL HOLDINGS

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., WGL Holdings, Inc. has four operating segments: (i) the regulated utility segment which primarily consists of Washington Gas, a natural gas utility that serves over one million customers throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region; (ii) the retail-energy marketing segment which consists of Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc., a third-party marketer that competitively sells natural gas and electricity; (iii) the commercial energy systems segment which consists of Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., a provider of design-build energy efficiency solutions to government and commercial clients and commercial solar projects and (iv) the wholesale energy solutions segment which consists of Capitol Energy Ventures Corp., an asset optimization business that acquires, manages and optimizes natural gas storage and transportation assets. Additional information about WGL Holdings, Inc. is available on our website, www.wglholdings.com.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS

HACA was founded in 1937 to provide affordable housing in Annapolis for families who lack the means to purchase or rent house at market prices.  HACA's mission is to achieve excellence in the housing industry by providing housing opportunities, self-sufficiency opportunities, and customer satisfaction to enhance the quality of life for very-low, low and moderate-income residents.

SOURCE Skyline Innovations