Jan 27 2010
Solar Nation announced the installation and commissioning of a 42-kW solar-electric system at the Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Solar power was installed by the appliance service and repair center to reduce and stabilize energy costs and to fulfill the center’s commitment to protect the environment.
As part of the installation process at the Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital location in Portland, 240 solar panels were installed spreading across 3,293 square feet of preexisting roof space. About 70 percent of the electrical energy requirements for the 7,280 square foot, 53-employee facility will be met by this solar-electric system.
Steve Merriam, Owner of Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital, remarked that this solar installation enabled the company to be good stewards of the environment for the existing and future generations. Merriam stated that the process of installing a solar-electric system on the company’s rooftop involved complications such as incentive applications, requiring financing, inspections and permitting. These issues were managed by Solar Nation on behalf of Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital thus simplifying the entire process and permitting the company to take up the opportunity without causing disturbances to its daily operations.
Paul Hodge, CEO of Solar Nation, remarked that the installation of solar-energy systems by businesses like Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital provides everyone with benefits. Most of the power produced by solar-energy systems is consumed by these businesses themselves and this effectively increases the total capacity of the grid without the requirement for new transmission lines or power plants. Hodge added that these businesses are strengthened by immediate cost savings while improving the environment and reducing carbon emissions.
The Appliance & Refrigeration Hospital solar-energy system, over a period of 25 years, will prevent about 826 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. This is equal to the annual offset of carbon dioxide of more than 33,050 trees or driving an automobile over 1,052,547 miles.