GREEN SPOTLIGHT: Waving Hands get Solar Power @ SJC
Posted by Josh Burroughs on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 @ 01:24 AM
A new twist has been added to the massive parking structure at San Jose's Mineta International Airport. Besides the expansive "waving hands" artwork covering the exterior of the structure, get ready for a roof full of solar panels!
Rosendin Electric was officially awarded the $6M contract to install over 4700 solar panels across the 4-acre roof!
Due to plunging construction costs over the last year, the project was so far under budget, that they had the ability to add back in the solar project which will provide power for roughly 20% of the yearly power of the gigantic garage (1 MegaWatt!)
I was a little surprised at the panel supplier they chose for the project, CanadianSolar out of Ontario, Canada (mainly because I had not heard of them prior), but in any case this is a step in the right direction for new projects in the Bay Area.
I think we are all in agreement that retrofitting existing buildings to be more sustainable is key, but 'new' projects need to take a special look at how to reduce the property's carbon footprint, and I think that this is a step in the right direction for San Jose.
Here's a link to CanadaSolar's website: >click here and check it out!
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