Washtenaw Goes Solar!

In a move that will reduce pollution as well as save money and energy, Washtenaw County recently completed installation of two renewable energy systems: a 10 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV), and a solar hot water heating system.

The Solar PV system is installed behind the back parking lot at the Washtenaw County Western Service Center on Zeeb Road. The system will help reduce the amount of electricity that the County normally has to purchase from its utility. What’s more, the use of solar energy is better for the environment as it offsets air and water pollution produced from fossil fuels. The County’s energy Coordinator Andrew Smith is conducting tours of the site, with the first scheduled from noon to 1pm on Friday, March 24^th.

PV panels produce electricity by harnessing the power of the sun. This particular system is expected to generate 3-5% of the entire Center’s total annual electricity use.

On the other side of the County, at at the Service Center in Pittsfield Township, the County has installed a new solar hot water system at the Youth Center. Similar to a solar PV system, a solar hot water system harnesses the power of the sun to heat water. No electricity is produced but heat energy from the sun is simply transferred to heat water. This one solar system is expected to save approximately $500, and 400 cubic feet of natural gas per year. It will also reduce close to 5,000 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.

For more information on solar energy, visit the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies website.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Andrew Smith at 222-3783, or email them to energy@ewashtneaw.org