Feb 14 2011
MBMI Metal Buildings, a company that provides pre-fabricated metal buildings and other accessories for clean energy initiatives, declared that it has built 6 T-frame parking canopies at its Drew Ford, San Diego, California facility and integrated it with solar panels.
The solar panels utilized at the facility are fixed over a steel frame to provide a source for solar energy as well as shade for the vehicles underneath it. In addition to providing a saving of around 30% in the form of federal investment tax credits the solar installation that meets nearly 18% electric power usage of the company will allow the company to save over 22% on its monthly power bills. Over a 25 year life time period of the solar installation, the company will save over 601% on its annual power spending. The power generated from the installation will reduce green house gas emissions to the tune of 5.199 tons in a period of 25 years, which can be equated to planting of 207,972 new trees.
According to Ian Strompf, an engineer from MBMI, though the installation of solar panels over the building invited additional spending, the saving on fossil fuel power and the social responsibility in improving the ecological balance makes the investment worthy.
Source: http://mbmisteelbuildings.com/