Solar Projects

BYRON HIGH SCHOOL SOLAR INSTALLATION

As part of an overall energy management project at Byron High School, Fanning Howey designed and oversaw the installation of a 50 kW photovoltaic array, including 160 solar panels on the gymnasium roof. Combined with boiler additions and temperature control, the project was projected to have a 10-year payback.

CLIENT Byron CUSD 226

COST

$1.7 M

COMPLETION DATE 2017

BETHANY SCHOOL

Cincinnati, OH

The new Bethany School is designed to use 15 kBtu/SF/year, which is 25 percent less energy usage than the average vacant building. The design team collaborated with the client to target a Net Zero energy goal, which means the building produces more energy than it consumes. To get to Net Zero, the design includes extensive use of solar panels to create a carbon neutral facility.

CLIENT Bethany School

SCOPE

Part of 58,000 New SF project

COST

$12.0 M

COMPLETION DATE 2019

COLONEL SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL

Fort Huachuca, AZ

As the first Net-Zero K-12 school in Arizona, Colonel Smith Middle School uses an extensive solar field to provide renewable energy. At the time of construction, the new military solar installation was billed as the largest undertaken by the Department of Defense.

CLIENT

Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District

SCOPE 88,693 New SF

COST

$20.0 M

COMPLETION DATE 2012

Deerfield, IL

Renovations to the middle school’s STEM labs include the addition of solar panels to help students learn about renewable energy. The science wing also includes a weather station, bird boxes with embedded video cameras, and garden beds to allow students to explore nature in a suburban setting.

CLIENT

West Point Military Academy, NY

The new West Point Elementary School is designed for a progressive STEM curriculum. As part of the design’s buildingas-a-teaching-tool strategy, the project includes solar panels connected to energy dashboards.

CLIENT Department of Defense Education Activity SCOPE 95,607

Detroit, MI

For years, Henry Ford High School had a career-technical program that befit its name - focused 20th century technologies. Renovations reimagined educational opportunities for the 21st century, including a STEM courtyard with solar panels, wind turbines and a green roof.

CLIENT Detroit Public Schools

SCOPE

Understanding all available c ost saving strate gies is a big par t of making net-zero ready buildings af fordable If you are lo oking at solar panels for renewable energy, for example, find a c ontractor who will help establish your dollars p er wat t, which b e c omes a go o d rubric for energy ef ficiency strate gies

When you can, implement an energy ef ficiency strate gy for b elow the renewable dollars p er wat t

B e aware of p otential funding sourc es for high p er forming buildings. D ep ending on the marketplac e and the typ e of client, there may b e funding in the form of tax breaks, grants or rebates. Make sure to include these additional funding sourc es in your analysis of first c osts and long-term op erating c osts.