The flamingos at the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City are now neighbors with two large pink Spotlight-Solar-made installations featuring solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which are intended to resemble the flamingos themselves, presumably.
The installation also serves, of course, as a show of Tracy Aviary’s interest in renewable energy, and solar energy in particular. The two new structures were actually unveiled on Earth Day 2015, so our reporting is perhaps a little late (but better late than never).
“We are proud to be able to introduce this innovative approach to capturing and creating solar energy at Tracy Aviary,” commented Tim Brown, the executive director of Tracy Aviary, while discussing the installations. “These solar trees directly align with our conservation and education mission. Thanks to Rocky Mountain Power, Spotlight Solar and Creative Energies, we are able to educate people about solar power in a unique and very visual way.”
Solar Power World Online provides some further details:
The pink solar structures will build awareness about the benefits of solar energy among Tracy Aviary’s 130,000 visitors. The artistic structures feature 24 Lumos LSX frameless solar panels, which are capable of producing up to six kilowatts of electricity. Annually, the installation will generate approximately 9,300 kilowatt hours, enough to supply the yearly electricity usage of an average US home.
The solar trees are Tracy Aviary’s third solar project in five years. The aviary also has LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified buildings with solar panels on the roofs of its South American Pavilion and visitors center.
“This is the most intriguing application of our solar structures so far: in a flamingo habitat and pink!” stated Craig Merrigan, the co-founder and CEO of Spotlight Solar. “The reason we created this product is to bring visibility to solar technology, so more people come to understand it and consider clean energy for their own homes and businesses. We are thrilled to partner with Tracy Aviary and Creative Energies to bring solar more visibly into the community of Salt Lake City.”
Spotlight Solar currently is working on several other such “distinctive” solar projects, so keep an eye out — you might see something interesting like this in the near future near you.
Image Credit: Tracy Aviary