Building Integrated PV System Energizes New California School
The first of three new California schools using solar energy to
power its classrooms is being dedicated today in the city of Brentwood,
located in Contra Costa County. United Solar Ovonic was tapped
by the Brentwood School District to provide Building-Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing. The 33 kW roof and energy system will
put power back into the grid for the district's new Pioneer Elementary
School.
"With the state cutting school operational spending, the
decision to use solar power made good business sense," says
Pam Currier, business manager for the Brentwood School District. "Electricity
costs the district hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
We'll save that much in the long-run with the UNI-SOLAR® system."
Proprietary UNI-SOLAR® building integrated photovoltaic laminates
are manufactured using Uni-Solar Ovonic's 30-megawatt production
equipment, which produces nine miles of roll-to-roll sheets of
photovoltaic material in three days on a machine the size of a
football field. The high temperature and low light characteristics
of these laminates result in more delivered energy to the building
even on cloudy days.
"The UNI-SOLAR® technology is ideal for school applications," says
Barry Cinnamon, president of Akeena Solar, the contractor at Pioneer
School. "The array can withstand dirt, rocks, and any kind
of weather. It's also easy to install on the metal flat panel roofing
most schools have in place."
At the Pioneer Elementary School, unique lightweight and flexible
UNI-SOLAR® photovoltaic laminates were applied directly to
the school's stainless steel roofing pans using a "peel and
apply" adhesive. The Brentwood School District, which recently
received a $125,000 rebate from Pacific Gas & Electric for
the system, will be a part of the PG&E solar schools program
that teaches students about renewable and clean energy. The district
will offset the other costs of the system with state money, local
money, and developer's fees.
"We are pleased that the Brentwood school district has selected
our Building-Integrated Photovoltaic laminates as the solar of
choice for schools," says Tom Moran, Sr. Product Market Manager
at United Solar Ovonic. "The dual purpose roof and energy
system will now convert necessary capital expenditures and operating
costs into a single 'clean energy producing asset' with a measurable
return on investment. Besides the advantages of providing an aesthetically
pleasing, virtually indestructible, easily installed roof and solar
solution, the UNI-SOLAR® system will produce up to 1,500,000
kW/hr over the life of the system to help offset the school district's
most expensive price periods, which will in turn substantially
reduce their annual operating costs."
A second UNI-SOLAR® BIPV system will be installed at the
Grant Avenue Elementary School now under construction in the district.
A third system for a new 80 kW middle school is under bid.
Further details about: UNI-SOLAR (www.uni-solar.com)
and Akeena
Solar (www.akeena.net).
From Solarbuzz.com — August 26, 2004 | Back | Next
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