Electrician Henry Mendoza installed eight 115W Evergreen Solar panels on the roof of the temporary Hospitalito Atitlán this week. When the electric bill exceeded $600 a month, the board of directors began to investigate solar energy. In 2005 a 16 battery emergency UPS (uninterrupted power supply) was donated and installed in Panabaj. With that, Hospitalito Atitlán had half of an alternative energy system.
Thanks to the generous donation of California friend and solar enthusiast Bill Cuneo, we purchased these panels. Electricity in Santiago Atitlán costs three times what it does in the US per kilowatt hour. On January 13th, Henry will assist Ian Woofenden, editor of Home Power magazine for a one day solar energy conference in Santiago Atitlán. The $55 cost for the one day conference will go to Hospitalito Atitlán.
