Creating Renewable Energy and


Earning ROI from Page 37


Driven by the impending deregulation in the electricitymar-


kets in Pennsylvania, which promised to raise rates considerably, the decision to go solarwas both environmentally sustainable and financially sound. Additionally, all projectmaterialswereAmeri- can-made, pleasing both the company and racing fans. The array will supply power to cover all facility needs,


including garages, concessions, suites and media spaces. During the wintermonthswhen the track is essentially closed, power will flow back to the grid. Expected to have a six- to eight-year payback on the invest-


ment, the $16 million project is designed to eliminate the race- way’s $250,000 annual electricity bill – and to power 1,000 near- by homes.This utility-scale system, visible even from space, took empty parking spaces and turned them into a boon for the race- way, the community and the parking industry.


Denver International Airport (DIA) Green Park DIA, jointly developed by Greenscape Capital


Group and ProPark USA, seeks to earn acclaim as “the world’s greenest parking facility.” The $18.6 million project near Denver International Airport features sustainable buildings and more than 1.4million square feet of parking, aswell as alternative pow- er sources including solar arrays. Scheduled to be complete late this year, the project will uti-


lize energy from a 16.9 kW ground-mount solar PV system, as well as from eight wind turbines. These strategies – combined with elements including significantly reduced lighting power densities in the parking areas andmore energy efficientmechan- ical systems – are projected to result in a total annual cost savings of 70%. The facility will also integrate solar charging stations for


electric vehicles, as well as other sustainable strategies for stormwater infiltration, water efficient landscaping and energy- efficient LED lighting. These three installations for both garage and surface appli- cations demonstrate that PV energy, tied to parking resources,


The Green Park DIA near Denver International Airport will utilize numerous strategies for energy reduction including a ground-mount solar PV system and wind turbines.


has tremendous potential to provide ROI. Private corporations as well as public institutions recognize the financial and environ- mental benefits, and have taken advantage of the confluence of technological innovation, tax incentives, and the movement toward greater sustainability. The solar market will continue to evolve and develop rapid-


ly. Reductions in the cost, and the potential integration of PV directly into buildingmaterials, will generate additional possibil- ities to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and their expense, and generate clean, renewable energy to power homes, buildings and parking facilities.


Chris Gray, P.E., a Project Engineer for Timothy Haahs & Associates, can be reached at cgray@timhaahs.com. Contact Bill Harris, President of Nexus Energy Solutions, at bharris@nexusproperties.com.


PT


38 NOVEMBER 2010 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com


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