Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 26, 2017

NYC health system installs 'solar wall' at Bronx facility

^{Photo of the "solar wall" built at Simpson Pavilion in New York City provided by Quixotic Systems.} 

New York City-based health care system Urban Health Plan has installed an innovative solar project at one of its facilities in the Bronx that is expected to reduce its energy costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

The "solar wall" was built at Urban Health Plan's Simpson Pavilion, which is LEED-certified and located in the South Bronx. The 37 kW solar photovoltaic system was designed and installed by Quixotic Systems, and foregoes limited roof space — a common barrier to solar installations in dense urban areas — in favor of the Bronx building's south-facing four-story façade.

In a Jan. 25 news release from Quixotic, the company said the solar project's most distinct feature is that it is expected to perform best in the winter whereas most PV installations typically generate more power during the summer. The solar array, which uses SunPower panels, is expected to save Urban Health Plan more than $230,000 over the system's life. 

"This distinctive solar system not only helps our environment; it saves money that we can put back into services for our community," Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez, president and CEO of Urban Health Plan said in a statement. 

Read These Related Articles:

• Top NYC hotels join city's 'Carbon Challenge'
• Etsy to power Brooklyn headquarters with solar, encourages sellers to follow suit
• NYC announces new energy efficiency initiatives, regulations for buildings
• Plans for an 'off-grid' residential complex scrapped by NYC developer
• Energy benchmarking pays off for NYC buildings