Working with W. M. Keck Observatory and REC Solar, both PZSE Structural Engineers and M3 Engineering contributed to the final custom engineering solution for this highly unique and challenging PV installation for the Keck Observatory. The result is world’s largest commercial solar system installed at the highest altitude.
For more information on the PV installation, please see the article.
“Due to the nearly vertical installation of the solar panels mounted on the side of the building, one of the biggest challenges PZSE faced was designing customs connections and rails for each panel and connection.” -Paul Zacher
PZSE worked with Aurora Energy on the installation of over 3,000 south-facing solar panels generating 1,175 Megawatts of energy. The building, called the Unisphere, is the new corporate headquarters of United Therapeutics located in Silver Spring Maryland.
PZSE is proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to the Net-Zero energy solutions as well as the unique and impressive design aesthetic.
Follow the link to the article below to learn how this building is making an impact!
https://www.asce.org/cemagazine/energy-star/
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. And their purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
PZSE Inc was fortunate for the opportunity to complete the structural engineering for this house which is located in Cameron Park. Turn Key Construction Group will finish the project in late April, and tours will begin on May 18th.
To learn more about the St. Jude Dream Home, please visit
https://www.stjude.org/give/dream-home/sacramento/prizes.html
photocred Opterra Energy Services
PZSE Engineers have been working with OpTerra Energy Services on engineering the solar installation portion of this outstanding and multi-layered program.
Opterra Energy Services
In the 2013-2014 school year, the Hawai'i Department of Education (DOE) spent more than $62 million dollars on electricity, gas, water and sewage costs — a 50 percent increase from over a decade earlier. Every dollar spent on utility costs detracts funding toward accomplishing the core mission of student success. The DOE sought ways to not only reduce its environmental impact, but also to change community practices surrounding energy use.
Choosing OpTerra Energy Services as a partner to design and build this ambitious program, the DOE developed Ka Hei, a five-year sustainability program integrating innovative energy technology with meaningful learning experiences, while reducing energy costs through extensive solar installations and various energy efficiency upgrades. Capturing the congruous relationship between the energy and educational initiatives, the program is aptly titled, Ka Hei, for a specific type of snare made with ropes that the Hawaiian god Maui used to capture the sun in the Hawaiian tradition. Ka Hei also means "to absorb as knowledge or skill."
The far-reaching Ka Hei program offers not only a comprehensive educational comp- onent, but also contributes to the State of Hawai'i's goals to produce 100% renewable energy by 2045. The Ka Hei program envisions achieving long-term sustainability through its efforts to create Net Zero Energy (NZE) campuses to provide clean energy and energy resiliency. A NZE campus is a facility that uses the same amount of energy on an annual basis that it produces through renewable energy generated.
The Ka Hei program strives to deliver quality, project-based curricula with four main themes: hands-on learning, real world application, inquiry-based learning, and college and career readiness. With a greater focus on long-term results, Ka Hei is also focused on increasing student and community consciousness about sustainability and responsible energy use throughout the islands. The island-focused energy curricula, or Island Energy Inquiry, was designed and developed in partnership with Hawai'i- based education partners, and is aligned with Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards III.
Students in each grade level experience relevant educational offerings tailored to the unique energy technology that will be implemented at each unique school. This includes solar and energy efficiency kits, in which students become immersed in the science behind solar energy and hone in on problem-solving skills that can be used across multiple subjects. By transforming each school into a living laboratory for energy and STEM education, students interact with the renewable and resource conservation technology via online dashboards that make real-time data analysis and technology integration possible. Additionally, Ka Hei provides STEM career exposure through career-oriented lesson plans that help teachers show students how STEM subjects apply to jobs in the real world.
Ensuring that Ka Hei has impact in the classroom requires ongoing professional development for educators. The professional development sessions, designed and co-authored with DOE stakeholders and OpTerra's Education Team, not only equip teachers with new tools and materials, they nurture enthusiasm for the program's initiatives that gets passed on to students. Educators are provided with a comprehensive STEM energy curriculum that is standards-correlated and inquiry-based, with hands-on lessons. Through the DefinedSTEM platform, which is available to all 255 DOE schools, and partnerships with community organizations like STEMworks, educational resources are put in the hands of District teachers so that they are empowered to bring sustainability concepts to life.
The STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) concept ensured all students (not only STEM pathway students) could be involved in Ka Hei initiatives through an engaging Ka Hei Logo Design Contest. The process of logo design provides an interesting curricular link of designing, building and creative concepts used in both art and STEM subjects. 325 inspiring student entries were received for consideration and a diverse judging panel from the industry, education, and non-profit worlds came together to select student, Tiffany Noda's winning logo
- See more at: http://opterraenergy.com/ps/ka-hei-department-of-education.html#sthash.8AlTzegp.dpuf
courtesy Hawaii Food Bank
Another example of how sustainable solutions can positively impact communities. Thank you Renusol for choosing PZSE as your on this project for the Hawaii Foodbank. Hawaii is just one of many states PZSE Structural Engineers is licensed.
Pacific Business News
The Hawaii Foodbank expects to save about $2.1 million over the next 25 years on its newly installed rooftop solar energy system, the Honolulu-based nonprofit said Tuesday.
The food bank and California’s REC Solar held a celebration ceremony Tuesday at the food bank’s Oahu warehouse.
In the first year, the nearly 300-kilowatt system is expected to save the food bank about 463,742 kilowatt-hours of energy, which is equivalent to the purchase of more than 102,000 meals, feeding 93 people daily in one year.
The solar energy system is projected to save the food bank about $41,041 in energy costs during the first year of installation.
Last year, the food bank distributed more than 12.8 million pounds of food on Oahu and Kauai, including 4 million pounds of fresh produce.
PZSE Structural Engineers is proud to be part of the design team responsible for new installation atop the Vivint Smart Home Arena located in Salt Lake City that boasts 2,736 solar modules and covers nearly 80,000 square feet making it one of the nation’s largest rooftop solar systems at an indoor sports arena.