How can companies achieve carbon neutrality if they still need diesel generators?

Perhaps political rhetoric may have oversold the capability of solar energy and wind systems as a renewable replacement for conventional power plants, such as fossil fueled or nuclear plants.

The district’s first net-zero energy consumption facility is on track to save $32,000 annually. 

Built in 1978, the existing 66,770-square-foot building on 11 acres of land became a demonstration project intended to prove the economic viability of a net-zero energy operation.

The Solar Futures Study explores solar energy’s role in transitioning to a carbon-free electric grid.

Since its installation in October 2020, the maintenance facility has already saved more than 120,000 pounds in CO₂ emissions, which is equivalent to 900 trees.

James Kim, superintendent of parks, Vernon Hills Park District, shares how his park — in conjunction with Trane — effectively implemented a solar array atop the district’s maintenance facility and shares some of the eye-opening data since the installation. 

We usually think of solar, or photovoltaic (PV), cells fixed to roofs, converting sunlight into electricity, but bringing that technology indoors could further boost the energy efficiency of buildings and energize swaths of wireless smart technologies, such as smoke alarms, cameras and temperature sensors, also called Internet of Things (IoT) devices.