As part of its sustainability efforts to leave morehandprints than footprints, Mohawk Group has partnered with the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) and SUN-CATCH ENERGY to install a smartflower
solar energy unit in Griffin, Ga. The smartflower technology was unveiled at a special ribbon-cutting event and reception earlier today at Griffin Region College and Career Academy (GRCCA).
The solar energy project—the first in Georgia that is part of the Mohawk Group initiative—is the third of 10 smartflowers to be established by the Georgia-based flooring manufacturer across the U.S. Other units have been installed in Chicago and Eden, N.C. Another will be unveiled later this week in Cocoa, Fla.
“We are honored that this portion of our hand printing initiative focuses specifically on helping schools with STEM programs to create exceptional education environments,” said David Dembowitz, senior vice president of education and government at Mohawk Group. “This program brings the benefits of solar power to our surrounding communities, creates strategic learning opportunities for students to become more familiar with solar power and sustainability and, ultimately, helps Mohawk in our corporate commitment to give back more than we take.”
Griffin Region College and Career Academy was chosen as the recipient of the smartflower unit through a special competition coordinated by Mohawk. The new solar energy unit will help to offset the power consumption and utilities costs at the school while also providing students with learning opportunities focused around alternative energy sources.
“The smartflower is a great asset to the campus of GRCCA for students who may be interested in pursuing a career in robotics, technology and environmental science,” said GSCS superintendent James D. Smith. “Additionally, students at our Elementary Enrichment Center will be able to take advantage of the smartflower through hands-on instruction about energy conservation and sustainability right in their backyard.”
The new smartflower unit now blooms just behind the school’s main building, which is adjacent to Orrs Elementary School and Southern Crescent Technical College.
The smartflower installation in Georgia is part of an ongoing social impact strategy for a selection of Living Product Challenge Petal certified flooring products within Mohawk Group’s larger portfolio. Each smartflower optimizes the generation of solar energy using modular petal-shaped panels that autonomously follow the sun throughout the day. The solar energy collaboration was created to reduce Mohawk’s greenhouse gas emissions and offset energy and resources used during some of its manufacturing processes.