Banner Health has announced the completion of a $2.5 million solar installation at its Mesa Corporate Center, located at 525 West Brown Road in Mesa. The system was designed, had financing secured and was constructed by Natural Power and Energy.
At 598.8 kilowatts, the project is one of the largest in the Phoenix metropolitan area and is estimated to provide a savings of up to $40,000 over existing energy costs. The project consists of rooftop parking structures covering approximately 46,627 square feet and provides shade and protection to 260 vehicles. The electricity produced equates to about 30 percent of what is used on the Banner Health campus in winter months.
The Banner Health Corporate Center-Mesa is itself a reuse project. In partnership with the local community, the 254,000-square-foot, nine-story building that was Banner Mesa Medical Center was repurposed by Banner Health in 2009. It now houses nearly 1,500 employees, several non-clinical departments and the largest medical/surgical simulation center in the country.
“Banner Health takes community responsibility seriously and sustainability efforts that redirect resources toward critical patient care initiatives are a top priority – even within the conservation efforts we use to manage our own facilities,” said Kip Edwards, vice president of development and construction for Banner Health. “Banner chose Natural Power and Energy given their strong reputation in the solar energy marketplace. Their ability to develop cost effective solutions was central to our decision.”
“We commend Banner Health for its commitment to the environment,” said Lori Singleton, SRP Director of Program Operations. “We are proud to be a part of a project that utilizes clean, emission-free energy from the sun.”
Under SRP’s Sustainable Portfolio goals, SRP must secure sustainable and renewable resources to meet 20 percent of its retail load by the year 2020. Currently SRP’s sustainable portfolio, which consists of energy-conservation programs and renewable-energy sources, including solar, wind, landfill gas, geothermal and low-head hydro, is more than 9 percent.
“Harnessing natural sunlight to generate electricity is a vital way everyone can contribute to a sustainable future,” said Rob Dallal, CEO of Natural Power and Energy. “Banner’s commitment to sustainability in all the markets they serve is a powerful example of corporate stewardship in action.”
In 2011, Banner Health was named one of the Top Five Large Health Systems in the country based on clinical performance, according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. Banner Health was recognized for having superior survival rates, better long-term outcomes, better adherence to accepted care protocols and patient-safety standards, shorter hospital stays, higher patient-satisfaction scores and fewer patient complications.
