Solar power generation at the city’s 2-year-old parking deck in Old Town is meeting and sometimes exceeding expectations, city officials and project contractors said.
Data from the city’s Downtown Development Authority show the solar panel array on the roof of the public garage along Eighth Street generated one third of the deck’s total electricity use in July.
“It’s just been a phenomenal year, and I’m real pleased with how it’s going,” said Matt Vajda, owner of Voltage Electric Inc. of Traverse City that installed the 40-kilowatt system on the roof of the $7.9 million structure.
The city spent about $240,000 to install the solar power system, which has an estimated 20-year payback. The system produces little electricity in the winter months when the deck uses the most power. For example, the deck used more than 47,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in January, when the solar panels generated just over 3 percent of its power use.
But the deck’s solar generation powered up thanks to a warm, early spring. The panels produced more than 4,300 kilowatt hours in March, more than 18 percent of the deck’s total power use. April was even better, as the deck generated nearly 26 percent of its electricity from solar power.
Vajda said April’s results were about 40 percent over projections, and May’s solar generation was 22 percent higher than expected. April was a sunny, cool month, and Vajda said solar systems are most efficient in clear and cold conditions.
“You have more inefficiencies when it’s warm,” Vajda said.
The solar power system is among the features that helped the city gain a LEED certification for the deck from the U.S. Green Building Council, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
But city officials said it’s more than just an environmental measure, as electricity costs are among the deck’s highest operational expenses.
“There’s a good amount of electric demand, even though it’s not an occupied building,” said Rob Bacigalupi, deputy director of the city’s Downtown Development Authority.
It includes lighting, an elevator, electric heat, powering a small business office and operating the deck’s snow-melt system. Those costs are highest in the winter months when the solar power system is generating at its low point. But officials said during a typical summer, when operating costs are lower, the deck should get about a third of its energy from solar panels.
“It’s right on track,” Bacigalupi said.
The DDA recently took steps to bolster energy efficiency at the city’s Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck along East Front Street by installing more efficient LED lights throughout the structure. The $118,682 lighting project is expected to save the city more than $21,000 a year in energy costs, Bacigalupi said.

Director Chris Paine took his film crew behind the closed doors of Nissan, FM and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the global resurgence of electric cars. Without using a single drop of foreign oil, this new generation of car is America’s future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever.
In 2003, Chris Paine helped conduct a funeral for the electric car, in memoriam of the loss of General Motors’ battery-powered EV1. His subsequent documentary, 2006’s “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, examined the premature death of the electric car industry.
Now Paine is back with a new film, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” a more optimistic look at the resurgence of the plug-in automobile, focusing primarily on the makers of the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Roadster.
There a concern that a switch to electric cars will present a problem for the power grid.
Director Chris Paine states, “Power companies say they can charge 180 million cars at night using the existing grid. The amount of time that it will take for car companies to get to a 180 million cars on the road is quite some time. So, if a 180 million cars plug in at 3pm, that’s a problem. But that’s not going to happen anytime soon. The power companies have every incentive to make the adoption of electric cars successful, because for the first time in years they can take on the oil companies’ monopoly on transportation fuel; and the government wants them to succeed because it means less dependence on foreign oil; and environmentalists want it to succeed because it means cleaner air.”

Vajda’s corporation is known for its knowledge and use of alternative energies, and Vajda lives by example.
This spring, he installed 20 solar panels on his home, reducing the use of electricity purchased by the electric company.
“We had such a sunny summer, I was able to sell electricity to the electric company and then draw from it as needed, as part of the Net Metering program,” said Vajda.
Recently, Vajda also purchased a Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle that will run up to 35 miles on a charge, when the gas engine will kick in to operate like a traditional hybrid.
“I’m able to drive the Volt to most of my job sites, offsetting the high cost of fuel I was putting in my truck each month,” he said.
As part of Vajda’s commitment to supporting alternative energies in northern Michigan, he recently added to his portfolio of certifications by completing a course in the installation of Electric Car Charging Stations called The Electric Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP).
In addition to receiving training on EVs and various car-charging stations, the course prepares installers to survey the home, business or site to ensure there is enough circuitry to support the added electrical usage or draw.
“EV Charging Stations are electrical circuitry, and you want to be sure the installation is correct,” Vajda said. “I strongly recommend having a certified electrician conduct a site survey before installing a station to ensure your home remains safe from electrical issues.”
According to Vajda, although most rechargeable electric vehicles and equipment can be recharged from a domestic wall outlet, household outlets are designed to be used at full load only for a limited period, which is typically only one hour – the amount of time a household appliance is used. But when charging an electric vehicle, the charging time exceeds that limit, lasting up to six or eight hours.
A charging station is 240 volts, known as level 2 charging, or a 500-volt high-current charging, known as DC Fast Charge. He said owners can install a level 2 charging station at home, while businesses and local government provide level 2 and DC Fast Charge public charging stations that supply electricity for a fee or for free.
“Many homes still have only a 60 to 100 amp electrical service, which will support everyday usage,” Vajda stated. “Added electrical demands such as a hot tub, air conditioning or an EV car charging station may throw the usage over the top and require a service change. New homes are equipped with a 200-amp service to help sustain the usage of modern technologies.”
Through incentive programs for users, Michigan utility companies like Consumers Energy and DTE Energy are taking a step toward making electricity the new fuel for Michigan drivers:
· Consumers Energy is currently offering qualifying customers a reimbursement up to $2,500 to help cover the purchase, installation and required home wiring of a level 2 (240v) charge station. In addition, Consumers offers a time-of-use rate for EV drivers to charge at a discounted rate or a flat monthly fee. For example, during peak hours in the summer, the rate can be as high as $.18 per hour. After 11 p.m., it may be just $.06 per KWH hour, so it saves money to use the charge station after 11 p.m.
· DTE Energy offers EV rates that include a time-of-use rate and a flat monthly rate. Customers that enroll in one of DTE Energy’s electric vehicle rates will also qualify for an electric charge station incentive, which will cover the cost of the charge station, installation and wiring for a separate meter up to $2,500. The customer will be responsible for any and all costs in excess of the $2,500 upon installation completion.
Voltage Electric, Inc. provides residential and commercial electrical services in northern Michigan with a focus on alternative energies, solar and car charging station installation.
By Katie Bedard-Goytowski
Contributing Writer

At the Awards Banquet, to be held on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at the Great Wolf Lodge, your company will be presented with a 2010 Awards of Excellence Glass Towers to display in your office.
Very truly yours,
Keely Eagle, Interphase
Chairman, Awards Committee

Last month, Voltage Electric’s crew of IBEW Local 498 members spent a few weeks installing 186 solar photovoltaic panels atop a roof that extends over the top ramp and on the upper level of the four-level parking structure.
IBEW Local 498 member Matt Vajda, who owns and founded Voltage Electric in 2004 was awarded the $245,000 contract to install the panels. He said it’s the largest such project in Northern Michigan. Colasanti Construction out of Detroit is managing the construction of the parking structure.
“It’s going great,” Vajda said while the panel work was taking place last month. “It’s definitely a good thing to be doing something involving renewable energy. It is certainly the wave of the future, and I hope to see more of it. Alternative energy and solar-specific training has prepared us for this kind of work.”
Vajda said he has undertaken solar power installation training courses at IBEW Local 58’s Training Center in Warren, as well as in Miami and Las Vegas. “You need to be ahead of the curve in this industry,” he said.
He and his crew of four other Local 498 electricians installed the U.S.A.-made Sharp panels, which measure 30.5 feet by 5 feet, and are rated at 230 watts each. The total array can produce up to 40.2 kilowatts when the sun is shining brightest in Traverse City. The payback cost in electricity produced vs. the cost to purchase and install the panels is 20 years, Vajda said.
City Engineer Tim Lodge said consideration of how ice and snow would affect the ramp going to the roof was a major safety concern during the design phase of the parking deck. So the decision was made to heat the ramp and put a roof over it – and that roof space gave the city even more space to install solar panels, which they had been considering.
“We looked at solar as a cost-effective innovation, so we put the solar option in the bid package,” said Lodge. “And what we’ll have is basically a decent-sized solar array that will be installed with a monitoring system that will generate useful information about the system. It’s a sustainable, responsible design, and we didn’t spend a lot of money doing it. Someone has to take this risk and show whether solar is viable for the community, and show what you can do and what you can’t do.”
Installing photovoltaic panels atop parking structures is not a new concept, but it makes sense. Parking decks offer a big footprint of land, easy access to the sun, and sometimes, spare room on the roof. A relatively sunny area and a willing owner are, of course, necessities. A number of high-tech computer, software and electronic companies in sunny California have been putting up the panels on parking structures for years.
“Solar has to go on parking lots and parking structures,” said former architect Robert Noble, who founded Envision Solar, a photovoltaic panel maker, in an interview with VentureWire. “The parking lots and parking structures are where all the space is.”
The Traverse City parking deck’s photovoltaic system will help power lights and other electric systems – such as car charging stations for electric cars – inside the parking deck. The system will be tied into the city’s power grid, so energy can be moved back and forth. The parking deck’s completion date is targeted for Aug. 3, but it may open sooner, Lodge said.
“It’s been a great project,” Lodge said. “It’s actually been easy because we’ve had such a great team working on it. They’ve worked with the city really well.”
By Marty Mulcahy
Managing Editor

Almost 190 solar photo-voltaic panels sit atop the four-story parking structure, a solar-energy system that on sunny days should provide more than enough power to run the deck’s high-efficiency lighting system. It’s among several “green” building features designed into the $7.9 million project located near Union and Eighth streets in Traverse City’s Old Town district.
The set of 3 1/2- by 5-foot solar panels across the deck roof took about two months to install and began generating power on Friday, said Matthew Vajda, owner of Voltage Electric Inc., of Traverse City. The company subcontracted the $242,632 project to install the solar panel system.
“It’s a big job,” Vajda said. “It’s generating quite a bit of power.”
By late morning Friday, the solar power system was producing around 31,000 watts of electricity. Vajda said that’s enough to light about 550 60-watt light bulbs; it’s the largest solar array project in Michigan north of Muskegon.
Electricity savings at the deck should pay for the solar-power system in about 20 years, Vajda said. Private investors can get that payback sooner because of federal tax credits, grants and other incentives. But the panels should function for 25 to 30 years, so the city should more than recoup its investment in solar technology, he said.
“It’s got a long life ahead of it,” Vajda said.
Architect Ray Kendra, a partner at CWS Architects in Traverse City, directed green building efforts at the new deck. He estimates the solar roof, high-efficiency lighting and other features will reduce energy use at the Old Town deck by about 40 percent, compared to a conventional parking deck.
The city wants to obtain a “Gold” designation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Kendra said it would be the first free-standing parking structure in the state to earn the designation.
The deck also earned LEED “credits” because of its proximity to other draws like banks and restaurants, and because much of its concrete, brick and other building materials were sourced within 500 miles of Traverse City. There’s also a “green” natural roof over the deck’s stairwells to reduce storm water run-off. The structure also will feature five charging stations to service up to 20 electric and hybrid vehicles.
“It sets a very good example for other developments within town,” Kendra said.
By Bill O’Brien

“The best market for solar is out over parking lots,” architect Robert Noble said in a May 2010 Green Tech Media article. The founder of the California-based company, Envision Solar, realized back in 2007 that parking lot and carport roofs were ideal for collecting solar power. The idea has been adopted on the roof of the new Old Town parking deck in Traverse City. Currently under construction, the $7.9 million, four-level structure will be home to one of the largest solar arrays north of Muskegon.
“This is a huge array,” says Matthew Vajda, owner of Voltage Electric,
the Traverse City company which received the electrical bid on the parking deck. The 186-panel, 40.2 kilowatt array will provide close to 15% of the structure’s total energy needs. “Residential solar systems typically run around 5 kilowatts, which is still a pretty large system,” Vajda says. “The 40.2 kilowatt array is the largest north of Grand Rapids. They’re currently building a larger system in Muskegon.”
LOCAL BIDS
The Old Town parking deck project is managed by CWS Architects, the TC firm responsible for such projects as the much-anticipated Grand Traverse YMCA building on Silver Lake Road and the Cathedral Barn at the Grand Traverse Commons. Having worked on other projects with Voltage Electric, CWS architect Ray Kendra was comfortable with using the company as the solar installer. “We are one of just a few local companies that won bids on the parking deck,” says Vajda. “It’s very exciting.” Vajda agrees that a parking deck is an optimal location for using solar. “For one thing, you’ve got the real estate. You’ve got the roof – a space that you wouldn’t use for anything else. Second, the electricity is right where you need it, versus racks upon racks in the middle of a field. Also, because it’s a LEED certified job (an economical and environmental standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council), you get more return on your investment doing solar, versus planting some trees or shrubs,” he adds. Although solar is pricey—this particular endeavor costing around $240,000—the return is about 20 years, “a huge payback” according to Vajda, who also serves as a board member on the Home Builders Association.
Currently, Michigan is limited in its solar incentives, but Vajda believes that will change soon. “Green building is something I’m strongly in favor of and we really just want to be ahead of the curve,” he adds. Vajda anticipates solar array installation on the parking deck will be completed sometime by the end of June, beginning of July.
Contact Voltage Electric at 231-946-3678 or visit them online at www.voltageelectriccompany.com.

Many of these projects take place within the home on a day-to-day basis. Increasingly, however, businesses and cities are becoming involved in the movement. The latest local example is the new parking deck in Traverse City’s Old Town.
“The city wanted to explore options for ‘greening’ the parking deck,” said Matthew Vojda, owner of Voltage Electric. “We looked at ROI (Return On Investment) between green roof and solar array for that roof area, and it was determined that there would be a greater ROI with the solar array, particularly with the great sun exposure.
“Through modeling, we feel we will exceed 15 percent of energy covered which exceeds the highest LEED threshold for On-site Renewable Energy,” stated Vojda, whose local company (Voltage Electric) was been hired by the city to complete the solar project atop the parking deck.
The advantages of solar power are obvious, but many rarely think of such things because the initiative is only now entering the mainstream of public thought.
“Most would say that the normal way of doing things is to flip a switch and magically they have light,” Vojda said. “Solar replaces the need – or decreases the need – to burn fossil fuels which pollutes our air and water.
“The biggest advantage is that solar does not harm our environment. Solar cells are also totally silent and non-polluting. And because they have no moving parts, they require little maintenance and have a long lifetime. Rooftop power is a good way of supplying energy to a growing community. More cells can be added to homes and businesses as the community grows so that energy generation is in line with demand.
“Many large-scale systems currently end up over generating to ensure that everyone has enough,” Vojda explained. “Solar cells can also be installed in a distributed fashion, i.e. they don’t need large-scale installations. Solar cells can easily be installed on roofs which mean no new space is needed and each user can quietly generate their own energy.”
Shared benefit
Voltage Electric is based in Traverse City, making this project not only green but economically friendly too. Founded in 2004 by Vojda, Voltage has since gone on to carve out its own unique niche in the local and regional electrical market.
The firm is a “+5 Electrical Contractor.” According to Vojda, the +5 Homeowners Electrical Protection Plan is a no-cost service, providing confidence to homeowners when hiring the services of an electrical contractor. The plan is called “+5” because it extends beyond a builder’s one-year warranty for an additional five years. In other words, a home covered by the +5 Plan is actually protected for six years.
Vojda is a master electrician who has been practicing his craft since 1985. His firm handles anything from small private jobs to large public contracts (like the parking deck) “and everything in between.” Vojda is currently working with other businesses in the area to help them reach their green energy goals.
And those goals are intertwined with Vajda’s own appreciation for the environment of northern Michigan.
“I have lived, worked and played in the Grand Traverse area since 1985,” he said. “In addition to my work, I am a Grand Traverse Area Home Builders Association Board Member and vice president of the Green Build Committee. I am also active in the cross country skiing and biking community.”
Vajda is excited about the opportunities for increased solar power throughout the region.
“Solar is a forward way of thinking for the city – looking into renewable energies,” he said. “Educating myself and my employees (electricians) on solar has been a major focus for our firm.”
By BROOKS VANDERBUSH
Contributing Writer

Voltage Electric, Inc. is celebrating 6 years in business! With the tough economic times we have all experienced, having the opportunity to announce this milestone means a great deal to me.

The industry is changing all the time and in an effort to stay ahead of the curve, I have spent the past 15 months focusing on alternative energies. My main focus has been on photovoltaics (PV), otherwise known as Solar.  Along with my personal coursework and certifications obtained through state and national classes, my team has also earned the necessary education and certifications to master solar installations.

In addition to installing home solar projects this past year, Voltage Electric has been awarded the Solar Panel installation for the Old Town Parking Deck.  The 180 panels will be installed this April.

Voltage Electric continues to handle a wide variety of electrical installations, from basic wiring to total electrical layout, design, installation, landscape lighting and whole house sound systems. The builders, engineers and architects Voltage has partnered with, have come to appreciate the total quality and workmanship our team exhibits on every electrical installation.

I would like to personally invite you to visit the Voltage Electric booth during the Home Builders 2010 Home Expo on February 27th and 28th at the Traverse City East Middle School in Traverse City. Along
with the many companies displaying the latest in building technology, you will have the opportunity to view and ask questions about Solar (PV) and the newest in LED lighting at our display booth. Look for booth #212 in the Green hall!

Sincerely,
Matthew Vajda, CGP
Master Electrician

Matthew Vajda, owner/operator of Voltage Electric Inc., believes so strongly in his role of helping homeowners and businesses conserve energy that he’s spent the past year furthering his industry education and earning related certifications.

“The industry is changing all the time, and it is absolutely essential to stay ahead of the curve as much as possible,” says Vajda, who has provided electrical services in the area since 1985.

He’s been especially focused on photovoltaics (PV), which is an electrical system consisting of arrays of cells containing a material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity. His extensive course work and certifications include:

• Advanced Solar Photovoltaic for Electricians through Northwestern Michigan College.
• Photovoltaic, October 2009, hosted by the Detroit Electrical Journeyman Training Committee.
• John Wiles PV-NEC
• Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter Product Knowledge and Installation Training
• Green Building for Building Professionals, August 2009, through the local homebuilders association

Vajda also is committed to ensuring his employees obtain the necessary education and certifications. Employees Bill Leavey, a local electrician/foreman/journeyman, and Jeff Seabolt, electrician apprentice, have completed numerous industry courses in the past year.

About Voltage Electric: Master electrician Matthew Vajda started Voltage Electric Inc. in 2004. In addition to solar, the company handles a wide variety of electrical installations, from basic wiring to electrical layout design, landscape lighting to whole house sound systems. Whether it’s a commercial or residential project, a new or remodel venture or simply a maintenance issue, Voltage Electric’s professional and knowledgeable staff will provide quality workmanship. Learn more about Voltage Electric at www.voltageelectriccompany.com or call Vajda at (231) 946-3678.

Voltage Electric, Inc. was awarded the electrical bid for the parking deck, which is slated to be completed on the block bordered by Lake Avenue and Cass, Union and Eighth streets in fall 2010.

Matthew Vajda, owner/operator of Voltage Electric Inc., is excited to be part of the project. He’ll begin installing the photovoltaics (PVs) onto the deck this coming summer. Photovoltaics are an electrical system consisting of arrays of cells containing a material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity.

Voltage Electric’s PV installation is believed to be the largest of its kind in the region.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to be involved in such a significant project – one that is committed to sustainable building practices,” Vajda said. “It’s exciting to see such forward-thinking on the part of city leaders, and I’m thrilled to be contributing my skills to help ensure the project’s success.”

Teaming up with Voltage Electric, Inc. and other local companies on the project was critical, said Ray Kendra, of CWS Architects, 513 S. Union St. The local firm is designing the parking deck’s façade and overseeing the three-story, 522-space parking structure’s “green” components. Along with being local, Voltage Electric’s “strong ‘green’ focus” was important and we’re glad to see them as part of the team,” Kendra said.

About Voltage Electric: Master electrician Matthew Vajda started Voltage Electric Inc. in 2004. In addition to solar, the company handles a wide variety of electrical installations, from basic wiring to electrical layout design, landscape lighting to whole house sound systems. Whether it’s a commercial or residential project, a new or remodel venture or simply a maintenance issue, Voltage Electric’s professional and knowledgeable staff will provide quality workmanship. Learn more about Voltage Electric at www.voltageelectriccompany.com or call Vajda at (231) 946-3678.