According to energy.gov, renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, and wind. This means that there are sources of energy that the earth continues to produce with no limits and no negative effect to the environment. At The Gaia Movement we believe that incorporating a renewable energy source is imperative to moving forward as a more sustainable organization. Although our focus is on textile recycling, we have made it our mission to assist in educating the community on sustainable actions and ways to positively impact the environment. Gaia has created a Climate Center with a focus on education for the public and creating an encouraging environment promoting sustainable actions!
One major way Gaia has taken a step toward cultivating a more environmental workplace and touring facility is by the addition of solar panels. The Gaia Movement installed their first 41 solar panels in November 2021 with the help of Ailey Solar, a solar installation company. These solar panels were the start of a greener Climate Center. Solar panels have many benefits including:
- Using the sun’s rays to produce boundless amounts of energy
- Reducing the use and need of fossil fuels
- Producing energy naturally without producing greenhouse gas emissions into the air
- Creating green jobs to design, engineer, build, and install solar panels
With all these great benefits to the environment and the community it is no wonder Gaia CEO Eva Neilsen and COO Marianne Thomsen strove to increase the Climate Center’s use of natural electricity by adding more solar panels. In May of 2024 they achieved their goals with the help of The Gaia Movement’s two grants, their first ever grants, from Illinois Solar for All and installed a full set of solar panels. This brings The Gaia Movement’s solar panels to a whopping 94 panels with a 41 panel 13.33 kWp system and the newest 53 panel 16.9kWp system. With the new editions this enables The Gaia Movement Climate Center to be 100% solar powered!
