Perris, Calif., officials have made a commitment over the past few years to incorporate environmentally conscious policies into the city's general plan, and to reduce emissions and the city's carbon footprint. To that end, the city has retrofitted facilities with low-energy consuming equipment, and it is generating its own electricity with solar panels.

In April 2006, Perris contracted with Morris Township, N.J.-based Honeywell to upgrade building systems and facilities to cut their energy use. Under the agreement, the company began retrofitting lights, and installing high-efficiency heating and cooling units, and programmable thermostats. The energy savings the upgrades produce — projected to total more than $1.8 million over the 20-year agreement — will pay for the work. The company guarantees the savings through a performance contract.

In addition, the company led a solar panel installation project to generate clean electricity for city facilities. Custom solar panel structures, designed by Novato, Calif.-based SPG Solar, were installed on the roofs of carports at the Perris library, senior center, firehouse, corporate yard and city hall. They can produce 370 kilowatts of electricity annually — enough energy to power about 100 homes per year — and they offer more than 240 shaded parking spaces for residents and city employees. The project was completed in January 2008.

Under a 20-year power purchase agreement, the company installed the solar arrays without any increases to the city's operating budgets or additional costs to taxpayers. The company operates and maintains the arrays, selling the electricity to Perris at a competitive price compared to conventional utility rates.

In the first six months after construction, the solar panels generated 112,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity — more than half the estimated annual power production. That is enough energy to cover 20 percent of Perris' electricity needs, surpassing the goals in the general plan by 300 percent. The solar carports and traditional energy conservation measures are expected to reduce the city's annual carbon dioxide emissions by 960,000 pounds. "The entire program educates our residents, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides clean and reliable energy," says Ron Carr, assistant city manager. "The benefits to our community have been enormous."

Project:
Energy reduction/solar panel installation

Jurisdiction:
Perris, Calif.

Agency:
Administration

Vendors:
Morris Township, N.J.-based Honeywell; Novato, Calif.-based SPG Solar

Date:
April 2006

Cost:
$1.8 million