Hire Electric » Silicon Energy

Kadlec gets energy efficient with solar panels, wind turbines

Jonathan Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:17 +0000

This article came up in the Tri-City Herald about the solar and wind installation that Hire Electric did for Apollo Solutions Group at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA:

By Michelle Dupler, Tri-City Herald

Cody Parsons, an electrician at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, poses for a portrait on the roof next to newly installed wind turbines and solar panels. The project was paid for in part with money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and includes a new heating system. See story below.

RICHLAND — The Tri-Cities’ infamous “400 days of sunshine” now are helping power Kadlec Regional Medical Center with the recent installation of an array of solar panels on the Richland hospital’s roof.

The solar panels, along with two miniature wind turbines, were part of a multi-million dollar energy efficiency project Apollo Solutions Group pitched to the hospital to help Kadlec save money on its energy bills.

Apollo secured $2 million in stimulus funding, along with $900,000 in cash incentives from the Bonneville Power Administration and Richland’s city government, to do the project, which also involved changing out 6,000 lightbulbs and replacing Kadlec’s aging boiler system with a more modern and efficient one, said Jason Rose, the hospital’s director of plant operations.

“(Apollo) really looked at the holistic picture of the hospital — opportunities within the hospital where we could save energy,” he said. “It was a fun project. It probably wouldn’t have been feasible without Apollo’s assistance.”

Kadlec paid $4.5 million out of its own pocket for the project, but Rose said it was the time investment by Apollo officials that really was invaluable.

The project almost didn’t happen when the stimulus money originally was awarded to another recipient.

“It took the wind out of our sails,” Rose said.

But then the recipient backed out when it was unable to meet a deadline, and the Kadlec project was back on.

The wind turbines and solar panels provide only a small fraction — about 10 kilowatts — of the hospital’s power, but because of the overall revamp, Kadlec expects to save about 30 percent on its energy bills.

“That’s huge for an organization this size,” Rose said.

And Apollo in its contract guaranteed those savings — or it will write the hospital a check, Rose said.

“They’re standing behind what they do,” he said.

Patients shouldn’t see any changes, other than maybe a little difference in the lighting.

“That’s kind of the beauty of this is we’re able to do all of these savings without changing the patient experience,” Rose said.

– Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com

Solar Seminar in Kennewick, WA on March 22nd, 2012

Jonathan Lewis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:24:30 +0000

Thursday, March 22 • 6:30 p.m.

Red Lion Columbia Center

1101 North Columbia Center Boulevard, Kennewick, WA

(509) 783-0611 ‎ · redlion.rdln.com

Free Solar Seminar!

Last years seminars were a great success with about 20 people each time excited to learn about the new Washington State incentive programs. Our next seminar will be at a NEW Tri Cities location on the 22nd of March – the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick.

Bob Skinner and Jonathan Lewis of Hire Electric will cover the basics of going solar in today’s economy, the Washington State incentive program, Washington manufactured inverters and solar panels, community solar options, federal tax credits, electric vehicle charging coupled with solar and much more! Munchies provided. Bring lots of questions.

Please RSVP here: hireelectric.com/rsvp/

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Kadlec Medical Center Gets Solar and Wind

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:45:43 +0000

We worked with Apollo Solutions Group to install a 5kW, Washington-made solar array with Silicon Energy solar panels and 2 – 2.5kW Energy Ball V200′s at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA. The project was completed in December 2011. Here are some photos:

We deployed a DECK Monitoring site so Kadlec Medical Center can keep track of the solar and wind production of this system.

Tri-City Herald Article

Washington Manufactured Solar Array and Inverter System

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:20:01 +0000

Silicon Energy "Made in Washington" Inverter System

Silicon Energy manufactures these stunning 195 Watt 4′x4′ solar modules in Arlington, Washington. They also assemble this inverter system. When both the solar modules and inverter system are manufactured in Washington the system can qualify homeowners and business for a $.54/kWh incentive from now until 2020. Click here to find out more about the Washington State Production Incentive

5kw Silicon Energy Ground Mount

Sometimes the roof isn’t an option. In order to find enough sunshine on this beautifully treed home site, we opted for a ground mount system. The Silicon Energy modules can be ground or roof mounted. They also make a very attractive car port or awning.

5kw Silicon Energy Ground Mount Array

One-Line Schematic Drawing of 5kW Silicon Energy System.

For a video showing just how strong these solar panels are, click here.

Unsmashable Washington Solar Panel! – Funny Video.

Jonathan Lewis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:40:10 +0000

Unsmashable Solar module from Isaac Lewis on Vimeo.

Franklin PUD's Silicon Energy Solar Array

Jonathan Lewis — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:54:41 +0000

Hire Electric had the privilege of being on the design team for Franklin PUD’s new solar array on their office building in Pasco, WA. They used Silicon Energy’s new Made in Washington Solar Modules and a building integrated design that makes the modules fit into the architecture very nicely. If you get a chance, stop by and see it – or check it out on this video:

Silicon Energy solar system at Franklin PUD from Isaac Lewis on Vimeo.