Jul 21 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bill O'Brien The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.



The Old Town parking deck won't open until next week, but it's already generating its own electricity.

Almost 190 solar photo-voltaic panels sit atop the four-story parking structure, a solar-energy system that on sunny days should provide more than enough power to run the deck's high-efficiency lighting system. It's among several "green" building features designed into the $7.9 million project located near Union and Eighth streets in Traverse City's Old Town district.

The set of 3 1/2- by 5-foot solar panels across the deck roof took about two months to install and began generating power on Friday, said Matthew Vajda, owner of Voltage Electric Inc., of Traverse City. The company subcontracted the $242,632 project to install the solar panel system.

 "It's a big job," Vajda said. "It's generating quite a bit of power."

By late morning Friday, the solar power system was producing around 31,000 watts of electricity. Vajda said that's enough to light about 550 60-watt light bulbs; it's the largest solar array project in Michigan north of Muskegon.

Electricity savings at the deck should pay for the solar-power system in about 20 years, Vajda said. Private investors can get that payback sooner because of federal tax credits, grants and other incentives. But the panels should function for 25 to 30 years, so the city should more than recoup its investment in solar technology, he said.

"It's got a long life ahead of it," Vajda said.

Architect Ray Kendra, a partner at CWS Architects in Traverse City, directed green building efforts at the new deck. He estimates the solar roof, high-efficiency lighting and other features will reduce energy use at the Old Town deck by about 40 percent, compared to a conventional parking deck.

The city wants to obtain a "Gold" designation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Kendra said it would be the first free-standing parking structure in the state to earn the designation.

The deck also earned LEED "credits" because of its proximity to other draws like banks and restaurants, and because much of its concrete, brick and other building materials were sourced within 500 miles of Traverse City. There's also a "green" natural roof over the deck's stairwells to reduce storm water run-off. The structure also will feature five charging stations to service up to 20 electric and hybrid vehicles.

"It sets a very good example for other developments within town," Kendra said.

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