A new roof for the H-F Ice Arena could cost $800,000 or more. But what if it was replaced for free by a solar company?
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District administrators joked at the Aug. 6 board meeting that the offer could be too good to be true, but they agreed to have staff continue the research on the advantages of going green.
Park district staff started investigating how it can lock in utility rates for the next 20 years by installing solar panels on the ice arena and the H-F Racquet and Fitness Center roofs.
Two companies have shared information on how they can work in tandem with the park district. The for-profit companies would provide a new roof, really a membrane, and install the panels. The park district would not see a utility cost increase for the life of the contract.
The park district currently pays about $36,500 monthly in utility costs.
One of the benefits for the companies is they get the federal and state tax credits being offered for converting to solar.
Other park districts have converted to solar. Cheryl Vargo, the manager of Irons Oaks, said she will be gathering information from their staffs on how they made their decisions.
If the park district does agree to partner with one of the firms, it would take six to nine months to get all the necessary permits.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s science addition is a green building and will satisfy its electricity needs through solar panels.