Parking Lots Could be Well-Suited for Solar Arrays
Wednesday, May 5th 2010 9:00 AM
By GetSolar Staff.
A California company is carving out a potentially significant niche for itself in the solar energy industry, by focusing on getting better use from large under-utilized areas like parking lots.
The company, Envision Solar International, specializes in solar trees and other products that allow photovoltaic panels to be mounted in a way that cars can be parked beneath them. For companies that utilize such devices, the rewards can include dramatic reductions in power bills and in many cases, state and federal tax credits.
According to Envision, it has already developed 9 megawatts worth of solar projects for various companies and other organizations, while pointing out that millions of acres of parking lots could be put to more efficient use with solar panels.
Solar trees mounted in parking lots may also have a useful role to play in the growing number of distributed solar energy products being developed around the country, from California to New Jersey.
With distributed solar, utilities and other companies place photovoltaic panels on existing structures, from businesses to home rooftops to telephone poles, to generate a large amount of electricity while avoiding some of the regulatory and cost burdens that conventional utility-scale projects can bring.
With solar power showing its benefits around the country, more ground-mounted and rooftop solar systems are being constructed for companies to take advantage of its perks. Rebates ...
Dow Solar recently expanded the availability of its Solar Shingle to homeowners in northern California.The Dow Solar Powerhouse Solar Shingle is a complete roofing system that prot ...
The city of Claremont, California, was recently honored for its numerous efforts to increase environmental standards and practices. The California Green Communities program honored ...
Two Manhattan Beach, California, schools were recently nominated for the new federal Green Ribbon Schools Award.The Environmental Charter High School and Grand View Elementary Scho ...
Subscribe
A California company is carving out a potentially significant niche for itself in the solar energy industry, by focusing on getting better use from large under-utilized areas like parking lots. 
