Issue 13.13
Dr. Sharon Richens said when the group of vision professionals built their new office building two years ago, the intent was to make it a comfortable, beautiful place for patients and employees. But she was also looking at a long-term investment that included saving money and keeping the sunny blue skies of St. George pollution-free.
“As a physician, I know some things about the very small particulate pollution that other people don’t,” said Richens, an ophthalmologist. “When it’s high, as it is during the temperature inversions in Northern Utah, you have an increased rate of asthma, emphysema, heart attacks and premature births. Those are some things that people might not associate with coal-burning power plants or small car exhaust.”
The solar system, installed by the St. George-based Legend Solar, includes 248 solar panels that generate over 135,000 megawatts of electricity per year. That is the environmental equivalent of taking 35 cars off the road for a year or planting 1,500 trees a year, according to Shaun Alldredge, a co-owner of Legend Solar.
“It’s a source of pride to me that we have a very sound business model that includes renewable energy,” she said. “What I love about the solar panels is they will continue to work when the sun is out, even when I’m not working. So when the entire staff is gone home for the weekend, the solar panels will continue to generate electricity and, if it feeds back into the grid, will pay us a little something.”
When choosing the company and type of solar panels, Richens sought advice from her brother, a PhD physicist in solar technology. He said the Suniva panels were a very good choice, and are an American-made product. They have a 25 year warranty and a life expectancy of 40+ years.
The building, built two years ago, also meets federal Gold LEED standards on the interior for environmentally friendly construction. Some features include 47 Solatubes that use sunlight instead of electricity, certified wood that protects the ecosystem, recycled products and water efficiency.
“It has been a real pleasure delivering top-notch vision care right here in St. George so that our patients don’t have to travel to Salt Lake City or elsewhere,” Richens said. “The addition of solar energy helps to insure that we will be serving our patients and the community well into the future.”
For more information about the Richens Eye Center, go to www.richenseyecenter.com.
For more information about Legend Solar and SolarTek, go to www.legendsolarteam.com.
For a video interview with Dr. Sharon Richens, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZGGa1pxREk.