Boston Public Schools Solar Installations – Murphy School, Boston Latin Academy, FDR School, Madison Park School and Boston Latin School – On Schedule

December 18, 2009

In a major renewable energy project for the City of Boston, Lighthouse Electrical is on schedule with the 134.5kW (in total) turnkey solar installation project for five Boston Public Schools – Murphy School (53.5kW), Boston Latin Academy (35.7kW), FDR School (32kW), Madison Park School (7.8kW) and Boston Latin School (5.5kW). The total electrical project value is $900,000.

The project scope entails Lighthouse’s design, engineering and installation of ballasted, roof-mounted photovoltaic solar systems at each school. Ballasted systems have been specified to avoid roof penetration. Solar panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar of Marlborough, MA and inverters by Solectria Renewables of Lawrence, MA are being utilized.

The installations are projected to realize a total energy savings of approximately 175,000 kwh per year for Boston Public Schools, amounting to an estimated $35,000 annually. The systems will be used as a teaching tool for students, enabling them to learn about solar energy and also track power output of the systems. The project is funded, in part, by grants through Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Commonwealth Solar rebate program.

Structural engineering services are being provided by Stephen Kelleher Architects, Inc. of Fairhaven, MA and electrical engineering by Art Engineering Corporation of Worcester, MA, both under subcontract to Lighthouse Electrical.

Lighthouse is supervising a field crew of 5 electricians from IBEW Local 103. The project commenced in August 2009 and will be complete by the end of April. All work has been conducted when school is not in session.

October 30, 2009

Boston, MA NECA Boston Chapter firm, Lighthouse Electrical Contracting, Inc. of Rockland, Mass. will commence the design/build $1.1 million 180kW photovoltaic solar project at Deer Island’s water treatment facility for the MWRA in early November.

Lighthouse has specified and will install a modular Sunpower Power Guard photovoltaic system comprised of 592 305-watt solar panels on the 75,000 s/f roof of the Deer Island MWRAWarehouse/Maintenance building. The array will cover approximately 13,000 s/f.

The highly energy efficient Sunpower system is designed to lay flat on the roof thus maximizing the system size. The base of the panel has a foam blocking feature that will protect the roof and also help insulate the building. The R-10 insulation rating of the system will save up to 30% additional energy by reducing the building’s heating and cooling loads. The Sunpower sytem also was specified for its high wind resistance feature as it is able to withstand winds to 140 mph.

Lighthouse project managers Scott Sullivan, Newell Thomas, and foreman Justin Aikens will supervise the Lighthouse field crew of 6 electricians from IBEW Local 103. The fast-track project is scheduled to be completed by January 1st, 2010.

Lighthouse is handling design/build project services with a project team consisting of Stephen Kelleher Architects of Fairhaven and Art Engineering of Worcester. Both firms are serving as subcontractors to Lighthouse Electrical on the project.

Last year, Lighthouse Electrical completed installation of a 100kW photovoltaic system on the waste water treatment plant facility at Deer Island during the same late fall/early winter season, and was able to manage the project successfully, meeting project parameters despite harsh weather conditions.