Desert Botanical Garden becomes even greener
using 100% SRP EarthWise Energy
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is now even greener as it is SRP's second large-business customer using renewable energy to meet 100% percent of its electricity needs. The garden began purchasing SRP EarthWise Energy in January 2007.
The Desert Botanical Garden purchases about 110,000 kilowatt-hours of green power each month from SRP. This purchase prevents 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the air per month, which is equivalent to removing 128 sport-utility vehicles off the road each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Power Profiler.
"The Desert Botanical Garden's mission encompasses conservation. We, as an organization, have a due diligence to not only protect plant and animal life, but also our environment. The purchase of 100% renewable energy is the next obvious step in being environmentally responsible," said Ken Schutz, executive director for the garden.
The SRP EarthWise Energy Program offers a diverse mix of renewable-energy sources including solar, wind, landfill gas, geothermal and low-head hydro. The energy produced is sent to SRP's main system, where it becomes part of the primary energy supply for customers. As more renewable power is supplied to the grid, the need for power from other sources such as coal and natural gas is diminished.
"The Desert Botanical Garden is another shining example of a business that is forward-thinking and concerned about protecting the environment for generations to come," says Lori Singleton, manager of Environmental Initiatives at SRP. "We look forward to other businesses also making this same investment in cleaner energy."
About the garden: A "Phoenix Point of Pride," the Desert Botanical Garden is one of only a few botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is a privately funded, non-profit organization and depends on revenues from admissions and gift-shop sales, as well as contributions from individuals and businesses to fund its programs of environmental education, plant conservation and research.
The garden is home to one of the world's finest and most diverse collections of succulent plants, including rare, threatened and endangered species. It sits on 145 acres and has more than 50,000 plants on display. For more information on the garden, please visit Desert Botanical Garden Web site or call (480) 941-1225.
About EarthWise Energy: SRP welcomes inquiries about SRP EarthWise Energy. We offer EarthWise solutions for business and residential customers. Feel free to give us a call (602) 236-2744, or send us an e-mail.
