The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas Opens the Luci and Ian Family Garden with New Solar Installation
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) May 27, 2014 -- The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s new sustainably designed family garden in Austin, Texas features an 8.85 kW solar energy array provided by Meridian Solar.
The 4.5-acre Luci and Ian Family Garden, which officially opened in early May of this year, is the only native plant garden developed for families in Central Texas. The garden’s interactive and educational features include a maze of native shrubs, giant bird nests made from native grape vines, a dirt dig, and a grotto with caves and a waterfall.
Additionally, a solar energy system is integrated onto the roof of the Robb Family Pavilion. Thirty solar modules comprise an 8,850 Watt array that was designed, provided, and installed by Austin-based solar developer, Meridian Solar. The project held a personal connection for Meridian’s President and Founder, Andrew McCalla, “Through my mother’s long-standing involvement with the Center, as well as her friendship with Mrs. Johnson, we have been discussing solar opportunities for many years with the Center. When the Family Garden concept began to solidify, it became a perfect fit for solar. We are honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to this legacy which will benefit the Center for years to come.”
Not only will the solar array save the Wildflower Center money in operations, the new development is an extension of the Wildflower Center’s commitment to sustainability. The 8,850 Watt installation will save 12,570 kWh of energy annually, or roughly the amount of energy that the average house in Central Texas uses on an annual basis. This production amounts to 16,262 pounds of CO2 emission savings and effectively plants 279 trees across Texas.
If you would like to view the new solar array in the Luci and Ian Family Gardens, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is open most of the year from Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon - 5pm. The center is open extended hours during the Spring. Check http://www.wildflower.org for current operating hours.
About Meridian Solar: Meridian Solar specializes in the development, engineering, construction, and financing of high-quality solar electric generation projects. Beginning in 1999, Meridian Solar has grown to design and build more than 600 installations with an installed capacity of over 40 MW across 15 states. For more information about Meridian Solar, go to meridiansolar.com.
Joanie Guiling, Meridian Solar, http://www.meridiansolar.com, +1 5124103878, [email protected]
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