Contact: Kristi Pronovost
Director of Marketing & Communications
(717) 653-8106 or kristi@abckeystone.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 5, 2021
(MANHEIM, Pa.) The Associated Builders and Contractors Keystone Chapter is pleased to announce that nearly 60-65% of the Chapter’s electrical energy is now sourced through sustainable solar resources following the installation of a rooftop solar array. ABC Keystone’s 31,000 square foot training facility, built in 2015, was constructed with green energy sources in mind. This solar array, installed on December 3, 2020, is the culmination of this goal.
The Keystone Chapter strives to be at the forefront of technology and sustainable energy use. When the building was originally constructed, forward-thinking design prioritized the slope and direction of the roof to eventually allow for the maximum use of solar energy. The structure was also designed to carry the additional load of the solar panels. While it was not initially cost-effective to install the solar array in 2015 when the facility was first built, advances in design now make it possible to complete the solar array installation in a fiscally responsible manner.
“It is always our goal to be good stewards of our resources and energy consumption, and we strive to do our part for the environment,“ says Chapter President-CEO, G. David Sload. “The ABC Keystone Board of Directors ensured that green energy was a priority during the rebuild of the training facility in 2015. All site and shop lighting was done using LED fixtures. All new room lights were controlled with motion sensors, eliminating lights left on when not in use. Large expanses of glass were incorporated into the shop and classrooms, allowing those spaces to be used on certain days without lights, and all new HVAC equipment was also designed to be energy efficient. We are confident that by now utilizing solar energy as well, we are keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum.”
ABC Keystone’s training facility makes effective use of its construction to further educate the students in its PA-registered apprenticeship program. The installation of this solar array will allow the Chapter’s 375+ apprentices to gain hands-on knowledge of solar energy installation processes and benefits. These hands-on experiences contribute to the well-rounded education of the Chapter’s apprentices who represent nine trades in the construction industry.
*high resolution photos available upon request
###
The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing over 500 construction-related firms and nearly 25,000 employees. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters nation-wide help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. Visit us at abckeystone.org.
