flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

California cuts its carbon footprint with solar

Sponsored Content Energy Efficiency

California cuts its carbon footprint with solar

Over the life of the combined systems, more than 580,000 tons of carbon dioxide will be eliminated.


By Panasonic | March 16, 2015
California Cuts its Carbon Footprint with Solar

Photo courtesy of Panasonic

As a society, we’re more aware than ever of the difference we can make purchasing smart, sustainable products and the role we can play shifting to cleaner, greener solutions like renewable energy. As we strive to make our own decisions with environmental responsibility in mind, we expect the companies we know and love to do the same.

Universities, shopping centers, sports arenas, charitable foundations, utilities, and beyond are working with Panasonic to develop bold solar solutions. Why? For many, installing solar is the go-to option for meeting sustainability goals, enhancing reputation in social responsibility, and reducing operating costs.

In fact, the Solar Energy Industries Association recently reported that between 2010 and 2014, residential, non-residential, and utility PV market segments grew significantly year over year. At present, there are more than 15,900 MW of cumulative solar electric capacity operating in the U.S. That’s a dramatic amount of renewable sun power and a monumental step forward on the path to cleaner, greener energy.

Sustainability Savings

Last spring, Panasonic completed a 16.2 megawatt portfolio of California Renewable Energy Small Tariff (CREST) projects.  Spanning four locations in Central Valley, the systems pack a lot of power and are prime examples of the real-life benefits of going solar. Over the life of the combined systems, more than 580,000 tons of carbon dioxide will be eliminated. Here’s a peak at what that looks like in…

Waste. Unfortunately, waste is an everyday reality, but what we do with it can make a world of difference. Recycling programs across the nation have helped our communities become more sustainable. While these programs play a crucial part in the “greening” of our society, to reach the level of CO2 eliminated by the Central Valley portfolio it would take recycling 1,836,513 tons of waste.

Trees. Trees purify our air, absorbing CO2 through the process of photosynthesis. The amount of CO2 eliminated by the Central Valley solar systems rival the work of more than 13,541,378 trees. That’s a lot of green.

Households. Unfortunately, the safe haven where we rest our feet and sit down to an evening meal is actually a leading producer of CO2 due to its high consumption of electricity. To reach the level of emissions reduced by Panasonic’s solar installations, you’d have to displace CO2 from the annual electric use of 65,893 homes.

Gasoline. We all know that cars are a leading producer of CO2. Day in and day out, we pay a pretty penny at the pump, but so does our planet. How much CO2 could be eliminated if we were to avoid using 59,279,850 gallons of gasoline? You guessed it, right around 580,000 tons.

Producing both economic and environmental benefits, the savings generated by solar are clear. From stadiums to retail facilities, universities to airports, professionals managing all types of buildings are partnering with Panasonic to develop comprehensive solar solutions. Working together, installing solar becomes more efficient and cost-effective than ever before. 

Related Stories

| Feb 22, 2011

Military tests show copper increases HVAC efficiency, reduces odors

Recent testing, which is being funded by the Department of Defense, is taking place in military barracks at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Side-by-side comparisons demonstrate that air conditioning units made with copper suppress the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew that cause odors and reduce system energy efficiency.

| Feb 10, 2011

Zero Energy Buildings: When Do They Pay Off in a Hot and Humid Climate?

There’s lots of talk about zero energy as the next big milestone in green building. Realistically, how close are we to this ambitious goal? At this point, the strategies required to get to zero energy are relatively expensive. Only a few buildings, most of them 6,000 sf or less, mostly located in California and similar moderate climates, have hit the mark. What about larger buildings, commercial buildings, more problematic climates? Given the constraints of current technology and the comfort demands of building users, is zero energy a worthwhile investment for buildings in, for example, a warm, humid climate?

| Feb 9, 2011

Fortune 1000: Despite moral obligation to sustainability, cash is still king

Eighty-eight percent of Fortune 1000 senior executives feel business has a moral responsibility, beyond regulatory requirements, to make their companies more energy efficient, according to a new poll released today by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Schneider Electric. At the same time, the vast majority (61%) of respondents say that potential cost savings are their biggest motivator to save energy at the enterprise-level, outranking environmental concerns (13%) or government regulations (2%).

| Feb 4, 2011

U.S. Green Building Council applauds President Obama’s Green Building Initiative

The U.S. Green Building Council applauded a key element of President Obama’s plan to “win the future” by making America’s commercial buildings more energy- and resource-efficient over the next decade.  The President’s plan, entitled Better Buildings Initiative, catalyzes private-sector investment through a series of incentives to upgrade offices, stores, schools and universities, hospitals and other commercial and municipal buildings.

| Feb 4, 2011

President Obama: 20% improvement in energy efficiency will save $40 billion

President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, announced February 3, 2011, aims to achieve a 20% improvement in energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 2020, improvements that will save American businesses $40 billion a year.

| Jan 25, 2011

Bloomberg launches NYC Urban Tech Innovation Center

To promote the development and commercialization of green building technologies in New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has launched the NYC Urban Technology Innovation Center. This initiative will connect academic institutions conducting underlying research, companies creating the associated products, and building owners who will use those technologies.

| Jan 25, 2011

Chicago invented the skyscraper; can it pioneer sustainable-energy strategies as well?

Chicago’s skyline has always been a source of pride. And while few new buildings are currently going up, building owners have developed a plan to capitalize on the latest advances: Smart-grid technologies that will convert the city’s iconic skyline into what backers call a “virtual green generator” by retrofitting high-rise buildings and the existing electrical grid to a new hyper-connected intelligent-communications backbone.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Sustainable Design and Construction

Northglenn, a Denver suburb, opens a net zero, all-electric city hall with a mass timber structure

Northglenn, Colo., a Denver suburb, has opened the new Northglenn City Hall—a net zero, fully electric building with a mass timber structure. The 32,600-sf, $33.7 million building houses 60 city staffers. Designed by Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Northglenn City Hall is set to become the first municipal building in Colorado, and one of the first in the country, to achieve the Core certification: a green building rating system overseen by the International Living Future Institute.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021