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| Dovetail Solar completes two PV systems in Cincinnati Dovetail Solar & Wind has completed two of the largest solar electric installations in the Cincinnati area as prominent elements of new green buildings. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden engaged Dovetail to install a 19.3 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on the Zoo's new Harold C. Schott Educational Center building. The 31,000-square-foot Education Center will be home to the Zoo's expanded educational programs as well as a 250-seat general-purpose auditorium. The solar system was installed by Dovetail. It is one of several 'green' building features incorporated into the Center. It uses 168 units of Evergreen Solar 115 watt photovoltaic modules installed on the South facing roof. The DC power produced by this large array is converted into 208 volt AC power by five PV Powered 4600 grid-tie inverters, and feeds into the building's standard electrical system. It will significantly reduce the external electrical power that will be required to operate the building. Any excess power that is generated by the solar system will automatically route to the utility power grid. This non-polluting, renewable energy system will avoid approximately 68,000 pounds of global warming CO2 from being produced annually by a traditional fossil fuel electric power plant. Dovetail also added an 11 kilowatt solar array to the new Melink Corporation headquarters in Milford, Ohio. The solar photovoltaic system installed by Dovetail on the roof of the building is one of green building features incorporated into this state of the art facility. The building features a geothermal variable-speed pump; a high-performance envelope including the roof, walls, and windows; natural lighting and passive ventilation strategies; indoor air quality controls; dual flush toilets and waterless urinals; recycling systems; and many other green elements. The Melink solar system installed by Dovetail is comprised of 64 Sharp Electronics 170 watt photovoltaic modules installed on ballasted racks on the building's roof. The DC power produced by this 10.9 KW array is converted into 208 volt AC power by two PV POowered 4600 inverters and feeds into the building's standard electrical system. Net Metering will ensure that any excess power that is generated by the solar system on weekends will automatically route to the electric utility power grid. This non-polluting, renewable energy system will keep approximately 40,000 pounds of global warming CO2 from being produced annually by a traditional fossil fuel electric power plant. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |