Envision Solar Covered Parking Lots with Solar Groves

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Matt Embrey in Architecture

Solar Grove Installation. Kyocera U.S. Headquarters, San Diego, California.

Like a modern day clean tech Johnny Applesead, Envision Solar is turning barren parking lots into “Solar Groves” with lush “Solar Trees.” Ok, while that metaphor might be a little ineffective, these installations are far from it. The Solar Grove is a highly customizable and efficient system of photovoltaic solar canopies. A Solar Grove installation allows a company to take a parkinglot that is normally an eye sore and a burden on the environment, and use it to harness energy, mitigate the polluting nature of a parking lot and provide an interesting asthetic.

Related Links from EcoHuddle...

See peer reviews of Solar Power at EcoHuddle.com

Here are a few features/characteristics that set the Solar Grove apart from many more conventional solar installations.

The single column support design allows it to be placed almost anywhere, and positioned in anyway to achieve the maximum benefit.
The Solar Trees are outfitted as Electric Vehicle charging stations so you can power up your EV on clean sun light for your ride home.
They are outfitted with light fixtures that shine up at the canopies after sundown, illuminating the parking lot at night.
The panels can be made translucent to allow dappled sunlight to pass through to the ground — a bit like leaves on a real tree would allow.
The Solar Trees are outfitted with bioswales at the base and the tilted canopies serve to route rainwater into the swales, which then filter out polutants as the water is drained, reducing run-off pollutions.

They currently have Solar Groves installed at UC San Diego, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO, on top of a municipal parking garage in Napa, CA, at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, CA, and at the Kyocera U.S. Headquarters, San Diego, CA.

For more information check out their website at EnvisionSolar.com.

: Solar Grove Installation. Kyocera U.S. Headquarters, San Diego, California.

Tags:

photovoltaic, solar, solar energy

8 Responses to “ Envision Solar Covered Parking Lots with Solar Groves ”

solar heater diy

30. Mar, 2009

great idea. and its more than likely that these parking lots will be in the city centres where we need the installations

Reply to this comment
Sikantis

30. Mar, 2009

Definitively a good idea!

Reply to this comment
Neal

20. May, 2009

Thank you for the great web site - a true resource, and one many people clearly enjoy. Keep up the good work.

Reply to this comment

Sites linking to this post:

Amazing Architecture for March 30, 2009 « Askthefm’s Weblog

30. Mar, 2009

[...] is a plan for a solar panel covered parking lot. The story on GreenUpgrader (http://greenupgrader.com/6769/envision-solar-covered-parking-lots-with-solar-groves/) proposes planting solar trees to help us with power generation. I like the idea but it looks to [...]

Reply to this comment
Green Blogs » Blog Archive » Eco Tech: Envision Solar envisions parking lots as solar generators

30. Mar, 2009

[...] Via: GreenUpgrader [...]

Reply to this comment
Eco Tech: Envision Solar envisions parking lots as solar generators | FollowGreen.com

30. Mar, 2009

[...] GreenUpgrader Share and [...]

Reply to this comment
They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot (w green energy) « Farm To Table: The Emerging American Meal

30. Mar, 2009

[...] found this story on GreenUpgrader.com about Solar Panels being arranged on the roofs of Parking Lots. They call it a Solar Grove, and I immediately seized on the language used. A grove! Of renewable [...]

Reply to this comment
Swiss CODE-X Solar Luxury Yacht – Green? | Green Earth

21. Jun, 2009

[...] Envision Solar Covered Parking Lots with Solar Groves The Solar Grove is a highly customizable and efficient system… [...]

Reply to this comment