The YMCA in Santa Rosa, California is going solar — and is doing so by using a hot new trend in the industry: by installing a solar carport.

Solar carports, which produce clean power and provide shade to parked cars, have been popping up atop parking structures at places like San Diego high schools, car manufacturing plants and, yes, even pistachio plants.

In some instances, carports offer a clever way to expand upon rooftop installations and are a good way to introduce solar energy to the general public. If a new structure must be built, however, often those added construction costs can make a given project less attractive from a financial standpoint.

The solar carport at the Santa Rosa YMCA will be financed by TerraVerde Renewable Partners and installed by SolarCity — a nationally known solar energy system builder. It is expected that the system will save the club about $250,000 over the next 15 years, but members and close neighbors will have to endure a bit of a headache during construction of the carport.

The number of parking spaces available in the YMCA parking lot will be cut in half until the beginning of 2011, when the solar carport is expected to be completed. The YMCA has notified neighbors that its members would be parking on the street until that time, when YMCA President and CEO David Brown says all parking spaces will once again be available.