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Solar Trees in Parking Lots - Convergence of Energy, Buildings, & Transportation
Envision Solar International Inc., a San Diego, CA global developer of solar integrated building systems, is planting Solar Groves in parking lots across the country. (VIEW GALLERY) Solar Parking Lot ApplicationsThe two-year-old company sees owners of large parking lots such as shopping malls, amusement parks, hospitals and schools, as prime candidates for its 12-foot-tall, 10-kilowatt Solar Trees.“Parking lots are the awful forgotten wasteland of every project,” Noble, a LEED-accredited architect, says. “We do ‘solar you can see.’ It’s the most public presentation of a company or agency’s commitment to sustainability.” Cost of Solar Tree/Solar Grove Energy SystemsNoble says Envision has nearly 100 projects in the pipeline and 10 currently under contract. Some clients purchase the Solar Trees outright and others enter power purchase agreements (PPAs), in which third-party financiers maintain ownership of the panels and the hosts of the panels are guaranteed a specific electricity rate over time. Convergence of Solar, Buildings, Transportation with Solar Panels to Cover Parking LotsIn January, Envision Solar provided the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with a Solar Tree that incorporates one 120-volt outlet per parking space at a demonstration site in Golden, Colo., meant to accomodate plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Noble says he encourages all clients to incorporate PHEV outlets in their Solar Trees.“We are at the convergence of the solar, building infrastructure and transportation industries,” Noble says. When it designs a Solar Grove, Envision Solar incorporates stormwater management features such as bioswales and permeable paving. A privately-held company, Envision’s leadership team includes Bill Adelson, a former senior associate at Tucker Sadler Architects, Pam Stevens, former president of national operations at Westfield, LLC, the world’s largest shopping center REIT, and Karen Morgan, president and founder of Generating Assets, an integrated solar finance and developer. The company’s advisory panel includes David Gottfried, CEO and Founder of Regenerative Ventures and the founder of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, and John Waters, Rocky Mountain Institute’s PHEV vice president. The Envision Solar Grove™ is a highly customizable, aesthetically-designed, photovoltaic-integrated parking lot solar system. Originally designed for Kyocera Solar, the simple elegance of the Solar Grove™ lends itself to a variety of surroundings and terrain that could otherwise prove challenging to more standard designs. Light Biomimicry with Solar Trees in Parking ApplicationsThe design is based on a graceful analogy, known as "biomimicry" — just as a citrus grove absorbs sunlight to produce food, a Solar Grove™ absorbs sunlight and produces energy. The analogy continues -- the frame and modules of the Solar Tree become its “canopy,” the support structure becomes the “limbs” and “trunk,” while the base foundation and wiring beneath the earth is known as the “taproot.”Solar Design Innovation for Multiple Green SolutionsThe Envision Solar Grove™ can be sized and positioned to meet the needs of the facility, and is particularly useful in sloping parking lots or lining curved edges.The single support column per tree allows for unhindered maneuverability about the parking area. Unique heavy-duty light fixtures turn on automatically at dusk and shine up toward the canopy, which illuminates the parking area for nighttime safety. Eight translucent solar modules allow light to pass up through the tree to create another visually appealing sight. During the day, these translucent models allow dappled sunlight to pass through to the ground — a bit like leaves on a real tree would allow. Environmental Benefits Provided by a Solar Grove™
Products: Energy Management Systems, Energy Simulation, Tracking & Monitoring Software, Energy Systems (CHP, Fuel Systems, Fuel Cells, Wind Power, Solar/Photovoltaics, Geothermal, Thermal Storage), Lighting
Envision Solar International, Inc.
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