CASE STUDY: GENERAL HYDROPONICS
Cogenra Solar installed an innovative solar photovoltaic electricity and water heating cogeneration system at General Hydroponics, a leading developer of hydroponic agricultural systems, nutrient formulas, and related products. Solar cogeneration produces hot water and electricity through a combined photovoltaic and thermal module. The waste heat from the back of the PV cells heats the water, which is then used in the facility. Roughly 4 additional units of energy on top of the electric energy are produced, resulting in at least double the customer savings versus a traditional PV array.
CASE STUDY: GATORADE FACTORY
A new industrial process solar water heating system at a Gatorade beverage factory in Phoenix produces more than one million kilowatt hours of heat energy per year. Each of the 85, 10.5 m² solar collectors manufactured by OEKOTECH has exceeded the estimated output of 1200 kWh/year. Pleased with the performance of the solar water heating system installed by SOLID in 2008, Gatorade decided to triple the size of the system in December 2010.
CASE STUDY: FOSTER ALLIGATOR FARMS
This installation of three shallow solar ponds (SSP) at Foster Alligator farms illustrates the wide range of commercial, industrial, and agricultural uses for solar water heating technology. The SSP system provides a large volume of hot water at a low cost that is used for cleaning and replenishing pools every morning to keep the alligators healthy.
CASE STUDY: FORT HOOD ARMY BASE
SunMaxx Solar installed a large solar water heating system at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. Located approximately 60 miles from the state capital of Austin, Fort Hood covers a total of 340-square miles and supports multiple units, a corps headquarters and a robust mobilization mission. The installation was completed in early spring 2011, and will include six solar water heating systems to meet the domestic hot water needs of six different buildings on the base.
CASE STUDY: FENWAY PARK
To enhance Boston’s clean energy output, Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, went solar May 19, 2008. City officials hired groSolar, a solar installer company based in White River Junction, Vt., to install a solar water heating system on the roof of Fenway Park. GroSolar partnered with Heliodyne, a solar water heating panel manufacturer, to complete the installation. The Boston Red Sox is the first Major League Baseball team to use a solar water heating system at their ballpark.
CASE STUDY: ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE
South Dakota’s historic Ellsworth Air Force Base is looking toward the future with a new solar water heating system. Two Piedmont companies partnered to construct the energy system, which was completed in May 2011. Panel procurement and overall design was handled by GenPro Energy Solutions, while Power Plus Electric installed the system and will continue to operate and manage the system.
CASE STUDY: EAGLE-VAIL COMMUNITY POOL
The town of Eagle-Vail, Colorado recently opened a community pool heated with 54 solar panels installed by Capitol Solar Energy and manufactured by UMA Solar. Seventeen year-round glazed and insulated flat-plate solar thermal panels heat the pool during winter to prevent freezing; 37 un-glazed, un-insulated panels increase heating power throughout the rest of the year when the pool is in use.
CASE STUDY: COVINGTON CITY HALL
The city of Covington, Georgia recently installed a solar water heating and photovoltaic system on the Covington City Hall. Not only will the system save the city money, but will also educate the public about the myriad of benefits from solar water heating and photovoltaics. Flat-plate solar water heating collectors manufactured by Alternate Energy Technologies were installed on the roof of City Hall by Suncatcher of Atlanta. The collectors absorb the thermal energy from the sun, which heats up a propylene glycol mix.
CASE STUDY: COLLEGE OF MARIN
In an effort to attain LEED Gold certification, the College of Marin in Kentfield, California recently incorporated solar water heating into a major renovation of its Diamond Physical Education Center. SunWater Solar installed 89 Heliodyne GOBI 410 collectors which will provide warm water for two major public swimming pools. The two pools hold a total of 295,000 gallons of water.
CASE STUDY: CAMP LEJEUNE
The largest residential solar water heating project in the United States was completed in 2011 at Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. FLS Energy and Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, which develops and manages base housing for the Marines, installed 2,200 solar water heating systems on military base houses during 2010 and 2011. Each house was fitted with one panel that will heat 45-50 gallons of hot water per day, approximately three-quarters of a family’s hot water needs. The project is expected to be a model for military bases across the country.