Cathedral City, CA, announced on March 22, 2006, the completion of a Honeywell solar canopy that is helping the city lower operating costs, improve air quality, and protect against rising energy costs.
Built using more than 1,600 photovoltaic solar panels, the canopy generates power while providing 170 covered parking spaces on the top floor of the Civic Center parking garage in Cathedral City. The canopy supports the city’s drive toward using clean, renewable energy and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 514 tons each year - them equivalent of removing more than 103 automobiles from the road.
“Solar energy allows us to leverage the most abundant natural resource in southern California and safeguards us against energy rate increases,” says Paul Marchand, Cathedral City council member. “As a result, we’re able to do more with the investment of our taxpayers, and make the city a better place to live and work.”
The solar canopy is part of a $2.7-million energy savings performance contract that is expected to reduce the city’s annual operating costs by 33 percent. In addition, the use of solar energy made the city eligible for the $1 million renewable energy rebate from the State of California. Administered through Southern California Edison, the rebate reduced the net cost of the project. And the energy savings that result from the citywide upgrades and improvements will pay for the $1.7-million balance over the term of the 10-year contract.
Along with installing the canopy, energy-efficient upgrades were also made to lighting and building controls in the civic center, fire stations, and public works buildings. “Officials at Cathedral City should be commended,” says Joe Puishys, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “They’re proactively addressing energy costs with the help of green, environmentally friendly technology. As prices continue to rise, more local, state, and federal entities will follow their lead.”
This information was reprinted with permission from Morris Township, NJ-based Honeywell Intl., a $28-billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings, and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access (www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions).
