City to install solar panels at Carmel Valley Recreation Center

The Carmel Valley Recreation Center will soon play a part in helping the city reach its renewable energy goals as outlined in San Diego’s recently-approved Climate Action Plan as the facility on Townsgate Drive has been tapped for the installation of rooftop and parking lot solar panels.The project has been approved by the Carmel Valley Recreation Council and came before the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board as an informational item on Jan. 28.San Diego City Council adopted its Climate Action Plan in December, which mandates reducing greenhouse gases 50 percent by 2035, more ambitious than Governor Jerry Brown’s goal of 40 percent by 2030.The plan includes five main strategies to reach the reduction of greenhouse gas targets: energy and water efficient buildings, clean and renewable energy, bicycling, walking and transit, zero waste and climate resiliency.James Chen, from San Diego’s environmental services department, said in 2014, the city completed a solar assessment of over 200 city facilities and identified the top 25 sites where solar could be installed to generate approximately 6.6 megawatts. Among the top sites was the Carmel Valley Recreation Center.Chen said the systems will be developed, financed, installed and maintained through a third party power purchase agreement. The city will sign a 20-year agreement with the third party to provide energy at a price lower than SDG&E.The Carmel Valley project includes carport canopies ranging in size from 70 to 100 feet in width over parking lot spaces, as well as 13.2 square feet of roof-mounted panels atop the recreation center building. The system’s 280 kilowatts of solar energy generated will be used to offset 75 percent of the recreation center and pool’s energy usage, Chen said, noting the city will also be looking for ways to be more energy efficient with lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades.“The project will cut down on greenhouse gases and help the city achieve its Climate Action Plan goals to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2035,” Chen said.The proposed project is anticipated to start in spring 2016 and be completed by fall.

City to install solar panels at Carmel Valley Recreation Center

The French Install Wind Turbines on the Eiffel Tower

Image: hjjanisch/Flickr

One of the world’s most iconic and well known monuments – the Eiffel Tower – just got even better: the French authorities have installed two vertical axis wind turbines to power, at least partially, the tower’s electrical requirements.

The Eiffel Tower was initially criticized by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Almost 7 million people visit it every year, and it received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010. But for all its artistic and touristic merit, the Eiffel tower also sucks up a lot of energy for elevators and lighting – and this is where the wind turbines step in.

Installed by New York company Urban Green Energy (UGE), the turbines are located above the second floor and are capable of capturing wind from any direction. They will produce 10,000 kWh of electricity per year – enough to power the Eiffel tower’s commercial first floor area. They also look pretty good.

“The Eiffel Tower is arguably the most renowned architectural icon in the world, and we are proud that our advanced technology was chosen as the tower commits to a more sustainable future,” CEO of UGE, Nick Blitterswyk, said in the release. “When visitors from around the world see the wind turbines, we get one step closer to a world powered by clean and reliable renewable energy.”

As part of the same renovation, authorities installed LED lighting and 10 square metres of solar panels on the roof of the first-floor visitor’s area. This solar set-up will heat nearly half of the water used by the two pavilion areas and a rainwater collection system will provide the flushing water from the toilets.

Unfortunately, all these additions won’t provide enough energy to offset the tower’s controversial nightly light show… but the message is clear: Paris is committed to reducing its energy consumption and generating as much green energy as possible – and “greening” up landmarks doesn’t reduce their value. The city aims to have a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, and for 25 percent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

The French Install Wind Turbines on the Eiffel Tower

EHT to install 125000 hybrid wind and solar energy systems in Senegal

Renewable Energy

07 November 2014 CGT Staff

EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp. (EHT) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see its recently formed joint venture Maple Leaf Energy SA install hybrid wind and solar energy systems to 125,000 residences in the Republic of Senegal in West Africa over the next five years.

You must have a membership to view the rest of this article.

EHT to install 125000 hybrid wind and solar energy systems in Senegal