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Solar Photovoltaic/Solar Thermal System
The 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living’s initial solar components will include: a 24.2 kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar panel array, 11 kW of PV on covered walkways and carports, and a 1 kW PV solar water pumping irrigation system. These initial components will generate approximately 38,100 kilowatt hours annually, which will provide about 9% of the facility’s electric needs. 21 Acres is also working toward future phases of the PV project with community investments to increase this capacity substantially. Power generated by the solar panels that is not used by the Center at certain times (usually summer days) will be delivered to the electrical grid through net-metering for an equivalent credit applied to the facility’s account.
 As a clean energy source, the system fulfills the goal of low impact on natural resources and low emissions of pollutants associated with conventional power generation. By featuring a highly visible PV array and easily accessible charging stations for electric vehicles, 21 Acres will generate interest and enthusiasm for solar energy and cleaner transportation among its many visitors and provide a showcase where the public can learn how to change practices in their own homes and businesses to conserve energy and resources. Interpretive signage and an educational display about the system will be prominently located in the Center explaining current system production, cumulative production and other system aspects. System diagnostics along with production history will also be accessible via the internet, allowing local schools and colleges to use the data to study solar energy.
Window Thermal Storage and Daylighting/Passive Solar
Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. Through high efficiency windows and daylighting the 21 Acres Center will take advantage of natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun.
Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, and require minimal maintenance and require no mechanical systems. The diffuse-light system will fill the space with natural daylight even on cloudy, dark days and provide thermal storage; extracting and converting energy from the sun to heat, cool, naturally light, and "energize" the building. Even on bright sunny days shades, curtains and light shelves are not needed.
The translucent fenestration system’s primary element is a structural composite sandwich panel formed by permanently bonding-under heat and pressure-fiberglass-reinforced translucent faces to a grid core constructed of interlocked, structural aluminum/composite, thermally broken "I" beams. Millions of prismatic glass fibers embedded in the translucent windows refract sunshine to create a balanced, diffuse wash of glare-free, usable light. Unlike gas-filled technology, which eventually leaks out, this light-transmitting system’s highly insulating properties remain constant.
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