Salazar Hall Remodel Features Large Solar Panel Grid, Unique Design Leading to Energy Rebates

The remodel of Salazar Hall at Sonoma State University has made the former university library one of the most energy efficient public buildings in northern California with one of the largest solar panel grids in the region.
On Oct. 9, Beverly Alexander, Vice President of Rates and Account Services for PG&E will present a $106,279 check to Ruben Arminana, president of Sonoma State University, for its participation in the utility’s “Savings by Design” energy-efficiency program for the Salazar project.
The $20 million dollar remodeling project features a unique system of low-energy cooling, lighting control, high-efficiency glazing, and photo-voltaics in a building that now includes a denser occupancy of
offices, classrooms and high-tech laboratories than its original use.
This has resulted in a building that uses 42% less energy than required by the State’s Title 24 Building Standards. Such energy savings is enough to power 80 residences.
The University has contracted with Powerlight Inc to install a 1200-module solar panel network on the roof of the building made up of 4-foot by 4-foot squares that will provide five per cent of the power needs of the campus including the operation of Salazar.
The University plans to use the energy-efficiency payment for this building as a down payment for this 96 kilowatt photo-voltaic system and PG&E will provide a $340,000 incentive for the solar system.
“There is not an installation quite like this,” says Keith Marchando, campus design engineer for the project, “where all of these forms of energy conservation come together at this magnitude.”
Bruce Walker, Sr Director – Planning and Construction, says the project will pay back the investment in the mechanical equipment in five years or less of energy savings.
The project has sparked the interest of the Lawrence Livermore Lab in Berkeley who will spend a year beginning in January 2003 studying the performance of the building with its innovative mix of low energy cooling, day lighting schemes and solar panel array.
“I’m very pleased to present this check to the university,” said Beverly Alexander, PG&E’s V.P. of Rates and Account Services. “It represents the kind of forward thinking that will result in many more successes for SSU. We are pleased to have the kind of business partnership that helps foster these results.”
Since 1991, the University has received over $450,000 in energy-efficiency incentives from PG&E and has approval for another $466,000 for projects that are in the planning stages.