Solar Panels Power UTC Ice Rink and Food Court
San Diego Daily Transcript
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Solar panels (pictured above) were powered up Thursday atop the ice rink and food court at Westfield UTC shopping mall.
The 100-kilowatt photovoltaic solar installation will generate approximately 50 percent of the power required by the ice rink and food court, allowing the mall to reduce its carbon emissions by 250,000 pounds per year.
The solar generation system was designed by Resource Energy Systems and installed by SPG Solar. Panels manufactured by Sharp were chosen for the project.
The solar installation is part of a green program that goes in hand with the $900 million revitalization of Westfield LLC’s UTC shopping mall, approved by San Diego City Council in July. The project achieved LEED Gold status under the U.S. Green Building Council’s pilot program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND).
The panels will not be the last installed on the roof of Westfield UTC. Plans for the mall’s revitalization also include photovoltaic installations atop new parking structures and retail rooftops. Other sustainability related plans for the revitalization include water-conserving appliances, alternative transportation and green construction techniques.
Westfield UTC is a joint venture between Westfield Group and JPMorgan Flemming Asset Management.
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Westfield Group