power ABOVE 40 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F E magaz ine. c o m GOING Opposite: Mercedes Benz of Fairfield has made a large investment in solar power for its showroom. It monitors the usage and savings with an online control panel s u s t a i n a b l e l i f e Y ou’ve seen, or maybe own, photocell-powered devices such as nightlights, car coolers and toys. These generally consist of a small solar panel and a small light or motor and run on less than 10V dc. These devices are very different from a system that can power a commercial facility or interconnect with a utility to offset a building’s energy consumption. The sheer size and weight of solar modules for providing electrical power to a commercial building can be daunting. The mechanical and site selection issues alone require specialized expertise. In addition, the value of these modules also means there may be security issues to consider, Price Simms Auto Group, specifically Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield, continues to set the standard for others to follow—this time in clean energy generation. Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield is a 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art new and used car sales and service facility. “We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint while potentially saving thousands in utility costs in the years to come,” said Mo Ayubyar, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield. “To achieve this objective we chose a product to harvest light off the roof.” Mercedes uses an integrated photovoltaic electric system (shown above), designed and installed by Gentec Electrical Services, to harness the power of the sun to provide sustainable, reliable energy. The system’s solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and generate approximately 95.5 kilowatt hours of energy annually, reducing the their PG&E bills by 90% and providing clean energy to the dealership. The system also produces enough clean energy to power an additional fifty homes through a partnership with Shamrock Renewable Energy Services, Inc. The system will spare the air nearly 91 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually. Over the next thirty years, the air pollutants saved will be equivalent to eliminating over six million miles of driving. “Price Simms has long had a commitment to sustainable energy and a concern for preserving our environment,” noted Adam Simms, COO of Price Simms Auto Group. “The conversion to clean, renewable solar power just makes environmental and economic sense. It also demonstrates our commitment to the community and to increasing our conservation efforts.” Mercedes Benz of Fairfield looks to the sun to power its new showroom FROM
NVLife_JanFeb_2015
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