Sun Tran

Sun Tran provides a service that improves air quality in our community by taking cars off our busy streets and uses cleaner burning fuels to operate their fleet. Now, as part of Sun Tran's dedication to becoming the City of Tucson's first "green" transit facility, solar bus canopies are shading the expanding fleet of 250 buses. This is not the first time SunTran has chosen to harness the power of the sun. Throughout the Tucson community, bus shelters utilize solar powered lights to reduce the amount of energy used to provide safe and well-lit waiting areas for passengers.

West Tucson Corporation

This West Tucson company decided to install solar because of the cost savings and the environmentally friendly approach to producing electricity. They like their data monitoring system and hope this installation paves the way for the future. They were pleased with their experience with TFS, noting specifically our attention to detail, responsiveness, and customer-focused attitude.

Arts For All

Our first recipient in 2009 for TFS’s solar grant was Arts for All, Inc.  TFS was proud to install a 5.2 kW photovoltaic system, which is expected to save the organization over $27,000 in utility costs over 25 years. Arts for All, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves children with and without disabilities and adults with disabilities from the greater Tucson area. Their mission is to provide accessible education, training and experience in the arts to children, primarily those with special needs. In an effort to decrease its impact on the environment and become a more earth-friendly facility, Arts for All has taken numerous steps toward general sustainability. For example, to prevent further landfill waste, Arts for All utilizes reused and recycled materials for art projects, implements an organization-wide recycling program, and provides reusable water bottles and tote bags for customers.

Arts for All’s sustainability practices stretch beyond the walls of its facility. Native desert landscaping has been planted, requiring low water usage. Also, all employees and members are encouraged to utilize alternative transportation methods such as carpooling, bike riding, taking the bus, etc. For those individuals who are unable to take public transportation, due to disabilities, Arts for All uses its own hybrid vehicle to insure that carpooling is accessible for everyone in their organization.

The PV system that was donated by Technicians for Sustainability was not this non-profit’s first experience with solar.  Earlier this year, a solar powered parking lot gate was installed in order to support the organization’s priority for long-term sustainability.

Lastly, TFS wants to congratulate Arts for All, once again, for the actions they have put forth for energy and resource conservation. We hope you enjoy your new PV system, and continue on your path to a sustainable future.

Central Animal Hospital

In 2009, Central Animal Hospital designed a new, LEED certified facility to provide a clean, healthful and modern environment for its patients, clients and staff.  TFS installed a photovoltaic system and a solar hot water system, which are just a couple of the green features that Central Animal Hospital incorporated into their new building.  Some of the other sustainable features include: •Extensive daylighting after taking a mostly windowless building and bringing in natural light via a central light monitor, glass block and solatubes.

•Automatic light adjustment using electric lights, which automatically adjust to provide the needed foot-candles of lighting for that room, at that particular time of day.

•High levels of building ventilation from the placement of carbon dioxide and temperature sensors throughout the building, which adjust the ventilation to provide a healthful and comfortable environment.

•Energy recovery systems that recover energy, hot or cold, from exhausted air and return it to the fresh air that is being pumped into the building.

•Rainwater harvesting for plants using cisterns that store a small portion of the rainwater that runs off the roof.

•Use of sustainable building materials that were produced as locally as possible and from materials that can be easily re-grown or replaced.

•Low-toxin production to prevent fumes and toxins from being released into and lingering in the building and the environment, creating a much more healthful building for all.

Central Animal Hospital designed a green building simply because it was “the right thing to do.”

www.centralah.com

Pima Community College - East Campus

TEP donated a photovoltaic system to be installed at the Pima Community College East Campus and TFS had the honor of being chosen to install it.  This installation is part of a movement to make solar more accessible in Tucson.  PCC is offering solar installation classes at various campuses.

Haley & Aldrich, Inc.

Haley and Aldrich installed a photovoltaic system as part of their remodeling project in order to follow their own guiding principles to 'lead by example' and 'invest in ourselves for tomorrow' in conjunction with their business segment helping clients implement sustainable practices.   They like most the fact that the system integrated well into the property (roof and carport installations without looking gaudy) and they enjoy the ability to monitor system production online in real time.

Brooklyn Pizza Company & Sky Bar

Brooklyn Pizza Company and Sky Bar are leading the way as the first restaurant and bar in Tucson to implement solar technology with a commercial retrofit through TEP's Sun Share Program. Located on Tucson's historic 4th Avenue, the shared renewable energy system is generating over 148,000 kWh of electricity per year, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 166 tons and reducing annual water use related to electricity generation by over 74,000 gallons.  The solar energy system is part of a larger effort by Brooklyn Pizza and Sky Bar to reduce their carbon footprint which includes a Smart Car and a 100% Electric Car for pizza deliveries.  As of Febrary, 2011 Brooklyn will be the 3rd 100% Solar Pizza Place in the United States!  Sky Bar is the first 100% solar bar in the US! “The sun is the most powerful entity in our solar system, shining down on the deserts of the Southwest practically every day; going solar is the logical, natural, intelligent and responsible thing to do. We hope our efforts help invigorate the alternative energy movement.” -owner Anthony Vaccaro

Downtown Tucson wrote an article about the 4th Ave Solar Businesses.  Read what they have to say about Brooklyn Pizza Company, Sky Bar  and TFS!