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The City’s first public art project to be illuminated using solar energy will soon grace the grounds of Calendar Park, at 401 East San Antonio. The project, a contemporary and colorful Aztec pavilion, is expected to be completed by spring 2011. It cost approximately $250,000 and was funded through the City’s federal energy block grant. The domed-shaped public art piece should compliment to the park’s current features – a war memorial and a Mayan calendar.
The City of El Paso is tapping into solar energy to heat its swimming pools. Armijo, Hilos de Plata, Leo Cancellare, Marty Robbins, Memorial, Shawver, Veterans and Viscount all have solar-heated pools. These energy-efficient heating systems allow the city to use clean energy to heat the pools while reducing its utility costs. The project cost approximately $1.8 million and was funded through a Texas State Energy Conservation Office loan. Eventually, all of the City’s pools will be heated using solar energy. The current systems save the City approximately $350,000 per year.
A portion of the energy needs for the City’s Main Library will be met using solar energy. Plans are in the works to equip the library, at 501 N. Oregon St., with a solar energy system. The system will harness the sun’s energy to generate electricity for the library. The project is in the design phase. It will cost approximately $400,000 and is funded through federal stimulus funding.
The long-term parking lot at the El Paso International Airport is illuminated using solar power. The $330,000 project was completed in March 2010. It is projected to save the City about $40,000 a year in utility costs. Officials were able to complete the project at a cost of about 60 percent less than a standard lighting installation. The solar lighting project for the 2,200 space parking lot was funded through the Airport’s capital improvement budget.
Click image below to learn more about the airport’s solar lighting project.
City of El Paso Sustainability Office
El Paso Electric Energy-Efficiency Tips, Programs
U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
U.S. Energy Information Administration
El Paso Solar Energy Association
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
For Students and Teachers
U.S. Energy Information Administration educational tools