VAGLAHS said it has received the most funding for energy projects in all of VA primarily due to the medical centers strategic location, Los Angeles, and its foreseen ability to significantly reduce electrical consumption and dependency on fossil fuels.
“We are extremely proud to be a renewable energy leader in the healthcare community and look forward to reducing our electrical consumption by implementing clean solar projects. Our veterans are reacting positively to the solar panel projects, and we love hearing that,” said VAGLAHS Director, Donna Beiter.
The yearly average savings is in excess of $1.7 million, according to VAGLAHS. In addition, the hospital said considerable rebate incentives will be provided by the utility companies.
The expansion of solar projects includes the following campuses: West Los Angeles Medical Center (WLA), Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center (SACC), and the Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center (LAACC).
Currently there are solar panels resting discreetly on WLA’s main building 500, 508, 510, and 511. Future plans include additional buildings and carports with solar panels.
Initially, VAGLAHS received $31 million for solar panels, that funding has increased to $50 million. “The current federal mandate is to reduce energy intensity by 30 percent by 2015 and increase the use of clean renewable energy. We feel extremely confident that we will reach that mandate,” said VAGLAHS Chief of Facilities Management, Robert Benkeser.
