In July, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) in the USA became one of the first animal shelters to make the switch to solar power.
The solar power system is owned and operated by Tioga Energy, a leading provider of renewable energy services to commercial, government and non-profit institutions.
The 274 kW rooftop solar farm, owned and operated by Tioga Energy, is comprised of 1,335 solar panels that will generate an estimated 33 percent of all energy required by the new HSSV Animal Community Center. HSSV expects the solar array to save up to USD$50,000 in energy costs a year. Through a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tioga Energy, the organisation was able to install the solar power system without any capital outlay.
“Humane Society Silicon Valley’s Animal Community Center represents a progressive shift in animal care, and a smart approach to solar was paramount to the project’s success,” according to chief executive officer of Tioga Energy, Paul Detering.
Careful planning not only went into the system, but also other areas of the Center to ensure maximum energy efficiency. HSSV expects it will by one of the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified animal community centers in the nation.
Some of the other green building technologies incorporated in the center is the re-use of 90 percent of the concrete from the previous building’s foundations, the use of an advanced heat recovery system and a reflective “cool” roof to reduce air-conditioning costs in the summer.
Established in 1929, HSSV has adopted more than 500,000 animals into permanent homes. HSSV is an “open door” shelter and accepts animals 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
