Homes and businesses in California’s San Diego County have been among the nation’s trailblazers in solar energy. Ronald McDonald House recently added to that trend by installing a rooftop solar system at its San Diego branch.

The San Diego house is the first of all Ronald McDonald branches in California to invest in solar energy. The 500 or so photovoltaic (PV) panel system being installed will produce nearly 150,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. The hope is that the solar energy system will reduce the facility’s monthly electricity bills and free up funds to provide services to more families. Ronald McDonald House has for 30 years offered support to families with children who have serious illness.

The 116-kilowatt San Diego solar installation was possible thanks to several companies that stepped up to offer their services at reduced cost. A large solar-panel maker, Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ), provided its 220-watt polycrystalline solar modules. HelioPower designed, constructed and financed the system. And PV Powered chipped in with a 100-kW inverter.

According to a press statement, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House of San Diego, Bill Lennartz, had the following to say about the project.

“Ronald McDonald House decided to pursue solar energy to create a healthy and sustainable environment for the children and families we serve, and to help greatly offset power costs,” said Lennartz. “Our partners have been vital to our success as a resource to families in some of the most challenging times of their lives, and we are excited to now be producing clean solar energy to help us provide care to even more families.”

The San Diego house is unique because it is the only Ronald McDonald House currently seeking certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) program. Beyond the newly installed solar energy system, the house was built according to green-building standards: much of the house is made from recycled material, for example, and energy-efficient lighting abounds. As a result, the house already uses approximately 17.5 percent less energy than a typical California building of equal size.