TFS’s most recent grant recipient is Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S). This non-profit organization is based in Tucson. They are committed to conserving the aridlands-adapted heirloom agricultural crops of the Greater Southwest and promoting the crops and agricultural traditions that have evolved with the harsh conditions of this desert region. NS/S has worked hard to make their mission a reality, and as a result, they outgrew their 485 square foot seed bank. Through a capital campaign effort, Native Seeds’ has a new 7,000 square foot facility, that will be a model of sustainability. In addition to solar power, rainwater harvesting, and use of sustainable building materials (e.g. recycled blue jean insulation), this facility will be home to demonstration gardens, historic orchards, and a community classroom space.

According to Byrn Jones, Executive Director of NS/S, “Our [NS/S] goal is to become a showcase in the community for green building.” In an effort to help support NS/S’s goal to have a facility with as small of a carbon footprint as possible, TFS donated the labor to install a 9.18 kW PV system. This PV system will save this non-profit approximately $1720 in annual operating costs. This system will also help to offset nearly 32,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (a direct contributor to global warming) and save 7,160 gallons of water annually.

View KXCI’s system output here.

The KXCI Community Radio PV system was installed on their 106 year-old building and commissioned in April 2010,  as part of TFS’s solar grant program for local nonprofit organizations. TFS donates solar energy systems to nonprofits twice a year as part of their commitment to giving back to the community and social responsibility. TFS was excited to be able to help KXCI go solar and create a more environmentally friendly community radio station. All of the system costs are covered by the grant, which allows KXCI to directly benefit from the monthly utility savings.

KXCI was chosen in part due to their long-established resource conservation program that includes recycling, phasing out administrative paper use, and their continuous support of environmentally-minded organizations and community events. The PV system will lower KXCI’s monthly electric bill approximately $100 per month, and help protect them from future electricity rate increases. This solar grant also gives the radio station a wonderful opportunity to inspire their community listeners to be mindful of their energy use and renewable sources of energy.

Photos (click to enlarge): Left - KXCI received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for being Southern Arizona’s first and only solar powered community radio. Right - TFS was excited to received a “Thank You,” from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords .

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Sun Tran provides a service that improves air quality in our community by taking cars off our busy streets and uses cleaner burning fuels to operate their fleet. Now, as part of Sun Tran’s dedication to becoming the City of Tucson’s first “green” transit facility, solar bus canopies are shading the expanding fleet of 250 buses. This is not the first time SunTran has chosen to harness the power of the sun. Throughout the Tucson community, bus shelters utilize solar powered lights to reduce the amount of energy used to provide safe and well-lit waiting areas for passengers.

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Our first recipient in 2009 for TFS’s Solar Grant was Arts for All, Inc.  TFS was proud to install a 5.2 kW photovoltaic system, which is expected to save the organization over $27,000 in utility costs over 25 years. Arts for All, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves children with and without disabilities and adults with disabilities from the greater Tucson area. Their mission is to provide accessible education, training and experiences in the Arts to children, primarily those with special needs.

In an effort to decrease its impact on the environment and become a more earth-friendly facility, Art for All has taken numerous steps toward general sustainability. For example, to prevent further landfill waste, Arts for All utilizes reused and recycled materials for art projects, implements an organization-wide recycling program, and provides reusable water bottles and tote bags for customers.

Arts for All’s sustainability practices stretch beyond the walls of its facility. Native desert landscaping has been planted, requiring low water usage. Also, all employees and members are encouraged to utilize alternative transportation methods such as carpooling, bike riding, taking the bus, etc. For those individuals who are unable to take public transportation, due to disabilities, Arts for All uses its own hybrid vehicle to insure that carpooling is accessible for everyone in their organization.

The PV system that was donated by Technicians for Sustainability was not this non-profit’s first experience with solar.  Earlier this year, a solar powered parking lot gate was installed in order to support the organization’s priority for long-term sustainability.

Lastly, TFS wants to congratulate Arts for All, once again, for the actions they have put forth for energy and resource conservation. We hope you enjoy your new PV system, and continue on your path to a sustainable future.

In 2009, Central Animal Hospital designed a new, LEED certified facility to provide a clean, healthful and modern environment for its patients, clients and staff.  TFS installed a photovoltaic system and a solar hot water system, which are just a couple of the green features that Central Animal Hospital incorporated into their new building.  Some of the other sustainable features include:

•Extensive daylighting after taking a mostly windowless building and bringing in natural light via a central light monitor, glass block and solatubes.

•Automatic light adjustment using electric lights, which automatically adjust to provide the needed foot-candles of lighting for that room, at that particular time of day.

•High levels of building ventilation from the placement of carbon dioxide and temperature sensors throughout the building, which adjust the ventilation to provide a healthful and comfortable environment.

•Energy recovery systems that recover energy, hot or cold, from exhausted air and return it to the fresh air that is being pumped into the building.

•Rainwater harvesting for plants using cisterns that store a small portion of the rainwater that runs off the roof.

•Use of sustainable building materials that were produced as locally as possible and from materials that can be easily re-grown or replaced.

•Low-toxin production to prevent fumes and toxins from being released into and lingering in the building and the environment, creating a much more healthful building for all.

Central Animal Hospital designed a green building simply because it was “the right thing to do.”

www.centralah.com

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TEP donated a photovoltaic system to be installed at the Pima Community College East Campus and TFS had the honor of being chosen to install it.  This installation is part of a movement to make solar more accessible in Tucson.  PCC is offering solar installation classes at various campuses.

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Haley and Aldrich installed a photovoltaic system as part of their remodeling project in order to follow their own guiding principles to ‘lead by example’ and ‘invest in ourselves for tomorrow’ in conjunction with their business segment helping clients implement sustainable practices.   They like most the fact that the system integrated well into the property (roof and carport installations without looking gaudy) and they enjoy the ability to monitor system production online in real time.

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Brooklyn Pizza Company is leading the way as the first restaurant in Tucson to implement solar technology with a commercial retrofit through TEP’s Sun Share Program. Located on Tucson’s historic 4th Avenue, the renewable energy system is expected to generate over 31,000 kWh of electricity per year, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 27 tons and reducing annual water use related to electricity generation by over 12,000 gallons.  The solar energy system is part of a larger effort by Brooklyn Pizza to reduce its carbon footprint, including a Smart Car for pizza deliveries.

“The sun is the most powerful entity in our solar system, shining down on the deserts of the Southwest practically every day; going solar is the logical, natural, intelligent and responsible thing to do. We hope our efforts help invigorate the alternative energy movement.” -owner Anthony Vaccaro

The City of Tucson chose to set an example for other municipalities by using a solar panel with a battery to provide lighting for a park ramada at night.  The system was designed to use an LED light in order to maximize the light output for the power being produced. Neighbors appreciate the fact that because of the motion sensor trigger for the light they know when people are approaching the ramada.