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Greening Parking Lots with Solar Trees

post #1 of 6
5/23/08 at 12:32pm
Thread Starter 

Via EcoGeek

 

"Each of the "Solar Trees", a term the San Diego-based company has trademarked, is 10 feet tall at the low end and 13 feet tall at the high end. At the site for Kyocera Solar, the canopy comprises 64 solar modules, approximately 30' by 40' and tilted at five degree angles.

 

The canopy can be situated in any direction and unlike a traditional carport structure, each canopy can tilt towards the sun in order to maximum the energy production and economic value. Every Solar Tree provides shaded parking for six vehicles which could also lead to reduced air conditioning use. "

 

I think that's a pretty sweet idea, though of course regular trees for parking lot shading are also good.

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post #2 of 6
5/23/08 at 2:49pm

 that is AWESOME as a consumer (keeps our cars from getting too hot, and also protects them from the elements), plus what a great way to convert so much solar potential into energy!  i can't really see a downside.  here's a picture of these "trees" covering outdoor parking spaces:

 

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post #3 of 6
6/2/08 at 3:14pm

So my little sister had her club volleyball tournament this weekend (they won, by the way...pretty awesome).  It was down at Leland High School in San Jose, CA. 

 

I drove down with my brother and his girlfriend...we got to the school.  And lo and behold!  Besides a bunch of 13 and 14 year old volleyball players praticing their sets and spikes, the parking lot was filled with solar trees! 

 

I just did a little googling and turns out, the San Jose Unified School District partnered with Chevron Energy Solutions and Bank of Ameria to "establish what is believed to be the largest solar power and energy-efficient facilities program in K-12 education in the United States.... The first phase of the program will include a total of two megawatts of solar arrays, to be installed on roofs at Gunderson High School and San Jose High Academy and on parking lot shade canopies at Gunderson, Pioneer and Leland High Schools and San Jose High Academy. Construction of the first phase will begin this summer and be completed by early 2008." (source: Solar Daily)

 

Clearly the pictures I was able to take don't really show the full scope of the parking lot or show the tops of the panels at all...but hopefully you get the general feel. 

 

 

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post #4 of 6
6/2/08 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 

Kickass!  And congrats to your lil sis, too.

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post #5 of 6
6/8/08 at 11:49pm

Vacaville, California has a public Park & Ride with 8 EV chargers and enough photovoltaic panels installed to meet the expected annual electricity use of the chargers:

 

Solar trees powering an EV charging station in Vacaville, CA.

[Image courtesy: http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/?p=1702]

 

http://www.evchargernews.com/regions/95687_6.htm

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post #6 of 6
6/9/08 at 12:43pm

That's very cool!  I also love the RAV4 EVs sitting there.

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