This is cool. Just received this in an email from our CEO at work concerning our company.
I’m pleased to announce we have moved one step closer to finalizing plans to construct a series of solar canopies in the main area of our employee parking lot. In addition to enhancing the value of our campus, the canopies will provide shaded parking for over 100 parking spots on the north side of the building, and will provide coverage from rain and snow when the sun isn’t shining. In addition to the shade provided by the canopies, the solar panels will generate enough electricity to offset roughly one-third of our annual electricity consumption.
Despite the economy, our company is doing well. We bought our building 3 years ago, spent year renovating it and then moved in. Within a year after that, we had the building paid off and a company that is essentially debt free. I like being a part of this company.
I also like the devoted solar panels. One of my greatest hopes for the future is the production of energy on an individual building/household/neighborhood level. For one thing, this could help break the grip that large energy producers have on the consumer. If one could produce a significant portion, or all, of the energy they need, mass producers would have to be more competitive.
A third? Wow – that is really something. Efficiency must have increased since the last time I looked into solar panels.
Could you make a back of the envelope estimate on what the square footage of coverage would be?
Comparing the proposed areas to the building size, I’m guessing 20,000 square feet give or take 5,000. The building is 78,000 square feet with 3 floors, i.e. 26,000 per floor. Approximately 200-250 employees, 99% with computers on thier desks, plus servers.
Being a long time sci-fi fan, I keep hoping the PVs get efficient enough to mostly eliminate needs for external power sources. I want a solar powered blaster.
Steve
The Kaiser hospital nearest me has solar panels in its parking lot.
Well, Germans are pretty efficient. ;+)
That is excellent! But you know the employees are going to be fighting for the shaded parking spaces! This is a win/win all the way around.