Participating in the Search for a Healthier Tomorrow

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WellMed Solar Water Heater Project A Partnership
with American Sunrise September 3, 2009
Carol Zernial Executive Director, WellMed
Charitable Foundation
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WellMed Overview

• Founded in 1990 in San Antonio, Texas by Dr.
  George Rapier
• WellMed is a Medical Management company
• Specializes in managing medical services for
  SENIORS Primary-Care Physician Centric
• 35 Clinics in Texas and Florida serve 80,000
  patients, including 35,000 Medicare Advantage
  members
• Physicians Health Choice (PHC) Medicare
  Advantage HMO, serving 17,000

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Change the face of healthcare delivery for Seniors

• Mission Statement

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WellMed Charitable Foundation

• The Foundation was established in 2006 by Dr.
  George Rapier III, a noted geriatrician who is
  also the Chairman of the Board.
• The Foundation is a non-profit 501(C)3
  organization that supports seniors and their
  caregivers in our community with a special
  emphasis on wellness, prevention, and living with
  chronic illness.

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WellMed Solar Hot Water Heater Program

• Dr. George Rapier is donating 500,000/year for 2
  years (total 1 million) to pilot a solar hot
  water heater program in San Antonio.
• Seed money will pay for purchase and installation
  of solar hot water heaters

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Goals

• Bring multiple organizations together to promote
  and develop awareness and understanding of the
  benefits of solar technologies.
• Lower the overall energy bills of low- and
  middle-income families.
• Create responsible solutions for the environment.

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Why?

• Reduce families utility bills, allowing
  financial relief
• Create a new population of green supporters for
  an environmentally friendly lifestyle a green
  culture in San Antonio
• Demonstrate solar hot water heaters are a cost
  effective and environmentally responsible
  alternative to conventional methods of producing
  domestic hot water

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Partner Organizations

• American Sunrise
• Alamo Area Council of Governments
• City of San Antonio
• Boys Girls Clubs, Communities in Schools, City
  Year others
• Alamo Colleges
• Solar San Antonio

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Sustainability

• Rebates up to 1,200
• Tax Credits
• Pay As You Save Programs (PAYS) Families will
  pay a portion of the project energy savings each
  month toward their installation. These payments
  will go into the fund to purchase and install
  additional hot water heaters.

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American Sunrise Fiscal Agent Project
Coordinator

• Organized in 2001 by Henry and Mary Alice
  Cisneros in the Prospect Hill area.
• One Square Mile Project In 2008, partnered with
  SAWS and CPS within a one square mile catchment
  area where efforts and resources are focused in
  making a difference in the neighborhood and the
  lives of the children and families on the
  Westside.
• Provide new toilets, water aerators, and energy
  saving CFL light bulbs throughout the house.
• Saved thousands of gallons of water and reduced
  energy consumption

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Alamo Area Council of Governments
Weatherization Program

• Home Owner Identification
• Intake and Qualification Screening
• Site Inspection staff cross-trained to conduct
  preliminary solar inspection
• Weatherization assistance

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City of San Antonio and Alamo Colleges

• Youth training program on the benefits of solar
  energy and maintenance of a solar hot water
  heater
• After School Programs
• Summer Camps
• Future programs at Mission Verde
• Train the Trainer program for youth organizations
• Potential funding through stimulus funding grant
  application

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Youth Programs

• Boys Girls Club
• City Year
• Communities for Schools
• Create opportunities for youth from diverse
  backgrounds to learn about green technologies, to
  consider working in the field, and to serve as
  ambassadors for our community

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Rapier and Associates

• Bulk purchase of solar hot water heater units
• Installation and Maintenance
• Final Site Inspection (pending)

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Solar Hot Water Units

• Pending purchase of Thermosyphon Solar Hot Water
  Systems
• Will not require roof mounting
• Fully automated

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• Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are
  an ocean.
• -Ryunosuke Satoro

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Contact Information

• Carol Zernial
• Executive Director
• WellMed Charitable Foundation
• [phone]
• czernial_at_wellmed.net