FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lion’s Roar Dharma Center Receives SMUD Shine Award for Permanent Shade Structures
Conserving energy and creating safe spaces support a tradition of caring for people and the environment
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 29, 2024 – – Lion’s Roar Dharma Center (LRDC) is proud to announce that it has been honored with a SMUD Shine Award in the amount of $5,000 to erect permanent shade structures that will help reduce energy use and provide a usable community garden for programs and events that are free to the public.
The Shine Award, presented by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), is a community development program designed to improve and revitalize neighborhoods in the Sacramento region. LRDC’s project stood out for its dedication to creating a welcoming and safe environment for neighbors and the larger community to share in and enjoy, while simultaneously conserving resources and reducing its reliance on air conditioning.
“We are excited to break ground on this project,” said Stephen Walker (Lama Yeshe Jinpa), Spiritual Director at Lion’s Roar Dharma Center. “Thanks to SMUD, we’re able to convert our side yard into a welcoming and environmentally conscious space for all. This project is in keeping with our commitment to caring for people and our environment.”
Given the current climate crisis, with one of the hottest summers on record last year, LRDC sought funding to create shade structures to help cool the grounds and lower its energy consumption (and costs). LRDC will install several shade sails along the length of the courtyard to reduce sun exposure on the building and in the garden, reducing the ambient temperatures by as much as 25 degrees.
About Lion’s Roar Dharma Center
Lion’s Roar Dharma Center was co-founded by Lama Yeshe Jinpa and Geshe Losang Gyatso in 1992. Lama Jinpa received direct lineage transmission from Geshe Gyatso in 1995 and is one of the few Western lamas thus far recognized within the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Lion’s Roar is committed to traditional Buddhist practice and promotion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision of maintaining the lineage while being open and non-sectarian in outreach and honoring all dharma paths. Lion’s Roar promotes concepts of compassion, tolerance, contentment, self-discipline, and interdependence as cornerstones of their dharma community while making authentic Buddhist teachings accessible to contemporary society within the context of current scientific, sociological and psychological practices.
About SMUD
As the nation’s sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Today, SMUD’s power supply is on average about 50 percent carbon free and SMUD has a goal to reach zero carbon in its electricity production by 2030. For more information on SMUD’s Zero Carbon Plan and its customer programs, visit smud.org.