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Dunbar High School Photovoltaic Array
Project Information
- Project Location:
- Washington, DC
- Status:
- Completed
- Structure Type:
- Education (K-12)
- LEED Certification (target):
-
Certified
References
- Client:
- Constellation Energy Group
Scope Of Work
KCI provided structural analysis and engineering services for the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of Dunbar High School in Washington, DC.
The District of Columbia Department of General Services, Sustainability and Energy Management Division had ramped up a renewable energy program for public buildings. The jurisdiction and Constellation signed a power purchase agreement, a first for the city, for a solar panel project at Dunbar High School. When it was completed, the 463 kilowatt array was the largest rooftop installation in the city.
KCI provided structural engineering analyses for the installation, which consists of 1,940 photovoltaic panels using ballast, trestle and film installations. These kinds of public-private partnerships are helping to advance clean energy initiatives throughout the country. In this case, the array helped the school meet its U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification by providing roughly 20 percent of the building’s estimated energy needs. Constellation financed and now owns and operates the array, and the District of Columbia Department of General Services purchases the energy generated under a 20-year agreement.
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