Lead by Example: New Veterans Home features 47.3 kW rooftop solar array

On Veterans Day, hundreds of people from all over Rhode Island gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Veterans Home in Bristol.

The new state-of-the-art facility, which houses 208 veterans, replaces the previous Veterans Home built in 1955.

On top of the new Veterans Home is a 168-panel rooftop solar array. With a 43.7 kW capacity, the annual carbon emissions savings from this installation equal driving a car 96,394 miles!

The building also exceeds Rhode Island's energy efficiency code requirements with some of these green enhancements:

• Occupancy and daylight sensors to control lighting use
• Extra building insulation
• Low flow plumbing fixtures that reduce water use by up to 30%
• Automated hot water recirculating systems to optimize energy use
• Use of high solar-reflecting outdoor landscape to reduce the "heat island" effect
• Recycling of 70% of the construction waste

The State's  Lead by Example initiative promotes the adoption of clean energy measures across public sector facilities and state agencies. State and municipal employees are helping to reduce energy costs and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with Rhode Island's economic, energy and environmental goals.