West Hollywood, CA – September, 2009
The West Hollywood Housing Authority announces that their development,Sierra Bonita Apartments is the first all-affordable mixed use development in West Hollywood to use solar power. The energy-efficient 42 unit building will serve tenants with special needs, including those with physical, mental and chronic health disabilities, and provide onsite supportive services for its residents. The 11 KW solar sculpture is engineered to off-set energy costs and will power all of the common areas of the building. The sculpture is composed of 72 semi-transparent photovoltaic modules, manufactured by SunTech Solar. They are mounted on a bold design of silver steel by award-winning architect Patrick Tighe. The solar sculpture creates enough energy to save 200 tons of coal from being mined and 342 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere over the 50 year projected life of the system. Herb Mendelsohn of PermaCity Solar brought the project to life in collaboration with all the creative designers at Patrick Tighe Architecture.