By Bryan Price and Nick Stutzman
BengalNews Reporters
A restored house that sits on the corner of Lafayette Avenue
and Grant Street has seen some energy savings since “going green.”
The
multi-use house at 223 Lafayette, Two twenty three Lafayette was restored last
year thanks to the PUSH Main Street Grant, and has recently put up solar panels,
which convert directly into electricity, on its roof this past October. Owner
Alex Kerns has noticed a return in electrical savings thanks to these solar
panels.
 |
| 223 Lafayette Ave. |
“The solar
panels are essentially covering the cost of the first floor’s electricity in
the house,” Kerns said.
Kerns said he hopes to see the
panels help cover more energy bills with the upcoming summer season.
Kerns spent
$100,000 for the renovations and the Main Street Grant covered 75 percent of
the cost. The 4,300 square foot house, which holds a commercial business in the
basement, two floors of residential space and an attic, received the Buffalo
Niagara Preservation Award in May of 2012.
West Side
contractors were involved in most of the renovations, which included siding,
roof replacement, restored front and second floor porches, energy efficient windows
and the installation of solar panels. The house also got a new back patio that
“makes the house unique,” since there is no real backyard Kerns said.
Lonnie Barlow, communications
director at PUSH Buffalo, said that the Main Street Grant helped bring vibrancy
along Grant Street and bring it back to life.
“Anything we can get to help
restore this neighborhood, make it livable and look good, is good,” Barlow
said.
