Reno Solar News
2011 News Archives
New Personnel Strengthen Reno's Expertise in Solar and Energy Efficiency
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Toby Foster |
Michael Vargas |
Addition of Toby Foster and Michael Vargas Reflect Continued Growth in Green Construction Services
Reno Contracting announced today the hiring of Toby Foster as Solar Preconstruction/Project Manager, and the appointment of Michael Vargas to lead the firm's Efficient Sustainable Practices division (Reno ESP). The addition of these positions underscores Reno's commitment to delivering comprehensive solutions to customers seeking efficient construction services or sustainable building upgrades, including solar generation.
"The addition of Toby Foster and Michael Vargas to the Reno team significantly strengthens our capabilities in delivering sustainable building solutions," said Reno Contracting President and COO Walt Fegley. "As we anticipate growth in the sustainable market, increasing our expertise in this sector lays the foundation for the future and prepares Reno to be a leader in providing quality green construction services."
Prior to joining Reno, Toby Foster was Senior Project Engineer/Estimator at Independent Energy Solutions, where he estimated projects and managed preconstruction operations for solar, wind and hybrid projects for commercial and government customers. He also held positions at HelioPower and GE Wind Energy.
Michael Vargas is the founder of Atlas Project Support, a provider of energy management, environmental sustainability, logistics and construction management services. With more than ten years of construction and project management experience, Vargas has deep expertise in major clean technologies such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy, and has created tools to help clients develop profitable, robust and scalable green businesses. Vargas holds an MBA and is a LEED Accredited designation supporting the US Green Building Council. He is recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Business Energy Professional and by the California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC) as a Certified Energy Plans Examiner. He also has a Contractor Quality Manager certification from NAVFAC.
Green Policies Will Pay Off at Home and Work
Michael Vargas, founder of Atlas Project Support, and a recently named consultant to Reno's Efficient Sustainable Practices Division, recently discussed the economics of clean energy, specifically as it relates to property values, in a San Diego Business Journal opinion piece.
Delivering Integrated Programs/Project Delivery for Counties and Municipalities
To achieve true sustainability standards and the associated economic and environmental benefits, a Municipality or County must offer more than simply an outcropping of new green buildings. Rather, it must transform to a place where the viability and success of all infrastructure is measured by its limited net impact on society and the environment, while adhering to fiscal goals.
For many Counties, such change is in the preliminary stage, with critical questions yet to be answered: What will it take to be carbon neutral?...What role do we play in this transformation?….How can we lead it? Others are further along. They have established goals, have created an initial plan know, generally speaking, where to start. But they require guidance in making and implementing the most appropriate and calculated decisions.
Reno ESP brings to these entities an innovative and comprehensive approach to establishing, strategizing and acting on their sustainability goals. Our collaborative methodology meshes our company's established project and construction management experts with other leading industry professionals in program level management and energy and water optimization consulting. Together, we not only help clients visualize the ideological future but stay grounded day in and day out, ensuring the realization of their shorter term objectives.
To learn more about how Reno ESP is helping municipalities and the County of San Diego realize their sustainability goals contact the Division Manager of Reno ESP, Eric Scheidlinger, at 619.220.0224.
Reno Contracting Selects Envision Solar to Partner on Delivering Solar Tree® Solar Powered Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
March 29, 2011–– Reno Contracting announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Envision Solar, a leading sustainable infrastructure designer and developer deploying clean energy systems globally. Under the alliance, Reno will construct Envision's Solar Tree® integrated solar parking arrays, including EnvisionTrak™ tracking technology and CleanCharge™ system-integrated charging stations for electric vehicles, in locations throughout the southwest United States. Plans call for a first project during Q2 2011, followed by an accelerated multi-location rollout at corporate and commercial campuses through this year and beyond.
Envision's Solar Tree® with integrated EnvisionTrak™ and CleanCharge™ systems together comprise a highly engineered parking area solar array charging system that is 20 to 25% more productive than conventional fixed solar photovoltaic systems. This increase is achieved by incorporating hybrid multi - access tracking, which enables the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day. Energy from the panels will be used to charge electric vehicles or delivered to the power grid. Feeding all excess solar energy back into the power grid supports the State of California's mandate of reaching 33% renewable energy by 2020.
Under the agreement, Reno Contracting will assist Envision in refining procurement of project materials; logistics for fabrication and delivery; entitlement and permitting; master scheduling; pricing; construction management and other construction related services. The company also will provide its extensive energy efficiency expertise.
The new alliance is the latest example of Reno Contracting's commitment to providing energy efficient/sustainable contracting services through its energy efficiency division, Reno Efficient Sustainable Practices (www.renoesp.com). The company's selection of Envision Solar is a response to anticipated dramatic growth in both the solar and the electric vehicle market over the next decade, as well as a shared vision and philosophy, according to Reno Contracting President Walt Fegley.
"Envision Solar's EnvisionTrak™ and CleanCharge™ systems provide a viable, clean-powering way forward in the face of instability surrounding global oil markets," said Fegley. "The system addresses criticism that electric vehicles charged solely from the power grid are using energy created in large part from burning coal or other fossil fuels, and therefore are creating greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles that are charged at the CleanCharge™ system can truly be considered zero emission vehicles. Additionally, the high level architecture of Envision's Solar Tree® designs complement any facility, in a market which often times is only dollar driven to the exclusion of quality design. We believe it will set the standard for smart, efficient solar electric car charging."
Fegley continued: "In addition, Envision's Solar Master Planning expertise is invaluable to our larger clients who need to consider a broader renewable energy strategy for their facilities."
Robert Noble, CEO of Envision Solar, said: "We've long been familiar with Reno's standing as a leading commercial general contractor. It is their excellent reputation and core expertise, combined with a unique understanding of sustainable construction and hands-on experience with solar projects that make this a logical partnership for our company."
Walt Fegley on President Obama's Better Buildings Effort
President Barack Obama's Better Buildings Initiative, announced Feb. 3, brought cheers to Walter J. Fegley, chairman of the Environmental Stewardship Committee of the local Associated General Contractors group. "I think there's just so much to be gained by going back into existing buildings and getting those retrofitted," he said. "It's no more a fad than Facebook. It's the wave of the future." Full story
Reno Contracting Recycles 60,000 Tons of Construction Waste
Reno Contracting has recycled more than 60,000 tons of waste from construction projects since the beginning of 2009, accounting for an average 72% of construction debris diverted from going to a landfill. This amount is the equivalent of three football fields, each 100 feet deep.
Sustainability and energy efficiency is not only part of Reno’s services to clients, it is ingrained in the company’s standard operations. Earlier this year its jobsite trailer was the first and only structure of its kind to achieve LEED® Certification for its use of recycled materials and energy efficiency systems. Recycling waste from construction projects goes above and beyond the minimum required by San Diego City ordinance. More than half the projects accounting for the 60,000+ tons of recycled waste have met, or are in the process of achieving, the more stringent requirements of LEED certification.
"When it comes to conservation and energy efficiency, we lead by example," said Walt Fegley, President, Reno Contracting. “Our record of recycling and use of recycled materials is intentional and significant, both in terms of cost savings and impact on the environment. Efficient sustainable practices are central to our vision."
Reno Contracting Supports Sun Edison on Solar Projects For California Polytechnic State University
Reno recently collaborated on two new solar projects with Sun Edison, North America's largest solar energy services provider and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR). The projects, both for California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, CA, include a 70,000 square-foot parking lot canopy installation, a first-of-its-kind project within Sun Edison’s portfolio of work, and a rooftop-mounted solar PV system for the school’s Kellogg Gym.
Reno provided structural design and overall construction services for the installation of Sun Edison’s grid-tied solar PV systems. Eight carport arrays, located in a Cal Poly parking lot, include an 850kw solar PV system managed by Sun Edison with a wireless satellite monitoring system. The same holds true for the 350kw solar module rack-set mounted on the existing gym roof.
The projects are the latest examples of Reno’s work providing energy efficient/sustainable building services to the commercial real estate market through its energy efficiency arm, Reno ESP (Efficient Sustainable Practices). Reno ESP was formed in 2009 to help commercial building owners enhance the energy and environmental efficiencies of their new and existing buildings and structures while driving down operating costs.
"Our extensive knowledge of all types of commercial and industrial construction is helping Reno deliver comprehensive solutions to customers interested in sustainable building practices and upgrades in addition to solar energy generation," said Reno President Walt Fegley. "As solar projects grow in popularity due to operational and cost efficiencies, Reno is particularly pleased to be working with a solar energy leader like Sun Edison and look forward to future projects together."
2010 News Archives
New Solar Projects for Irvine Unified School District
[Wrap copy] Reno Contracting recently collaborated on on two recent solar projects for Irvine Unified School District with Sun Edison, North America's largest solar energy services provider and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR). The projects entailed the construction of steel canopies in the existing parking lots of two school district facilities, the District Office and Maintenance and Operations. PV solar systems were then placed on top of the canopies.
Reno Contracting was the design-build general contractor on the projects. This is the first phase of several planned projects for the school district. The current projects involved a 100kw DC PV system on roughly 17,000 square feet of canopy for Maintenance and Operations, and a 220kw DC PV system over 10,000 square feet of canopy at the District Office.
The projects required DSA (District of State Architect) approval, typically involving a rigorous drawing approval process that often can take months to complete. With the help of 4STEL Engineering, the structural engineering firm on the jobs, the team was able to get DSA approval for the projects in one day. This was significant in the overall construction schedule, as the facilities needed to remain open and careful planning and phasing was required to help minimize disruption of the school district's daily activities throughout the process.
In addition to 4STEL, team members included: M Bar C, the steel contractor, and Bergelectric, the electrical design-build contractor. For Reno, Dave Enos was project superintendent, and Kevin Horst was project manager.
Reno And Atlas Project Support Form Alliance To Provide Renewable Energy Construction Projects
Team of Solar PV Energy Service Providers on ‘Short List’ for California Department of General Services Solar Power Purchase Program
Reno Contracting announced today its collaboration with Atlas Project Support to provide energy conservation/renewable energy solutions for clients interested in creating energy efficient buildings. These services include providing solar PV energy systems.
As part of that work, a four-member team of companies including Atlas and Reno Contracting has been selected to be on a short list of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy service providers for the California Department of General Services Solar Power Purchase Program. The other team members are Alternative Energy Capital, LLC, which is the financing arm of the collaboration, and design and engineering firm Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.
Atlas Support Project specializes in developing solutions for clients with a focus on energy conservation/renewable energy, construction management and cost engineering best practices. In addition to collaborating with Reno on the state of CA Department of General Services Solar Power Purchase Program, Atlas Project Support has performed electricity consumption/offset analysis on potential solar projects and plans to work with Reno on project development, program administration and cost engineering analysis and quality control on diverse construction projects. Reno and Atlas have focused on similar projects in Energy Efficiency retrofits and consulting opportunities.
"Atlas has admired and respected the brand of Reno for many years," said Atlas Project Support owner Michael Vargas. “It has been this recognition of Reno’s core values that has perpetuated our business relationship. Atlas Project Support, in its own right, has time and again proven its commitment to good governance, accountability, and personal integrity. It is a natural fit for such progressive and socially responsible companies to seek each other out."
"We look forward to continuing our work with Atlas Project Support on the state of California Solar Power Purchase Program, as well as other construction projects focused on energy efficiency and conservation," said Walt Fegley, President, Reno Contracting. “Atlas is a world-class service provider and Mr. Vargas is an accomplished professional in the renewable energy space with more than a decade of industry experience on projects in construction, energy conservation and general project management."
Under the state of California Department of General Services Solar Power Purchase Program, qualified solar PV energy service providers will install solar PV energy generating systems at State buildings, facilities or real estate property in order to generate and deliver electricity from solar PV energy for sale to the State department or agency under a power purchase agreement. The program is aimed to contribute to the State’s goals relative to renewable energy generation and procurements and reduction of the State’s carbon footprint.Reno Contracting Construction Trailer Achieves LEED® Certification
Reno Contracting, announced another first today with the LEED® certification of a Job Site Construction Trailer. This is the first and only structure of its kind to achieve such a rating. The trailer serves as the operations offices for the Reno on-site team, and is presently located on a jobsite in Anaheim.
Read the Full Press Release »
Does building green make cents? Exploring the economics of commercial green buildings.
San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, April 5, 2010
...The researchers found that green buildings have rental rates that are two percent higher per square foot than otherwise identical nearby buildings. When the rents are adjusted for building occupancy levels and rental concessions, the premium goes to above 6 percent. At the average size of the buildings in the study, the estimated annual rent increase for a green building is almost $241,000, giving the building an increased sales value of about $4.7 million more than comparable unrated buildings in close proximity.
Read the Full Article at www.sandiegometro.com »
New Reno Contracting Group Aims for Energy Efficiency
San Diego-based Reno Contracting reports the launch of Reno ESP (Efficient Sustainable Practices), a new business group providing a complete range of "green" building services to the commercial real estate market. Reno says the new group was formed to help commercial building owners enhance the energy and environmental efficiencies of their new and existing buildings while driving down operating costs.
"Our mission is to make buildings more attractive to tenants and buyers, and more economic to maintain, while also protecting the environment," says Walt Fegley, president of Reno Contracting and Reno ESP. "Increasingly, ‘building performance’ is becoming a key factor. An owner can command higher rental premiums, as well as enhance the value of the building, if it is more sustainable in terms of energy usage and water conservation."
