Elemi Architects completed one of the largest private solar energy systems in the state of Tennessee as part of the design and construction of Riverfront Professionals, a new three-story dental office complex located in downtown Chattanooga.

“The Riverfront Professionals project includes 140 solar panels,” said Eric Myers, principal architect of Elemi Architects. “It was designed to follow Elemi’s goal of environmentally responsible and economically intelligent architecture by incorporating passive solar technology to offset electricity costs and minimize the carbon footprint the building leaves behind.”

As a result of its green design, the 32,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility participates in TVA’s Green Power Switch Generation Partners program, offering power customers a cost-efficient way to generate power with very low impact on the environment while earning credit toward their electric bills.

By participating in the program, TVA will purchase 100% of the facility’s green solar power output at 12 cents per kilowatt hour above the current retail rate. Payment is made in form of a credit issued by EPB on the monthly power bill for the location where the generation system is located – and is guaranteed for ten years from the date of the contract.

“At 31.5 kilowatts of generated power each, the installation should conservatively recoup $700 per month in credits through TVA’s Generation Partners program although, I believe this month they will be way over that,” said Mr. Myers. “With seven dental practices housed under one roof, the overall energy savings can be tremendous for years to come.”

Located at Riverfront Parkway and M.L. King Boulevard in close proximity to the Tennessee River, the Riverfront Professionals complex also features large sun shades on the East, South and West of the building that deflect sunlight from mid Spring until early Fall.

“The building’s passive solar approach and sun shades will help minimize the cooling demand on its high-efficiency HVAC equipment,” said Mr. Myers. “In fact, those enhancements are expected to help the heating and cooling systems operate at 1/3 the cost of standard equipment.”

In order to acquire and install the solar panels and equipment necessary to be in compliance with national standards and applicable codes, Elemi partnered with Sustainable Future, an-East Tennessee based firm specializing in energy reduction and solar energy applications for producing electricity and hot water applications.

“Tax incentives helped pay for more than half of the initial installation costs so the rate of return on investment is more than 15 percent,” said Barrett Taylor of Sustainable Future. “Plus, the system’s panels are guaranteed for 20 years with minimal maintenance, so they will likely outlive their technology.”

“Riverfront Professionals was specifically designed to maximize energy efficiency within a reasonable new office building budget,” said Mr. Myers. “When you consider the big picture, green design saves more than just the environment. Investments like solar panels also have the power to substantially defer operating costs for years to come.”

Elemi Architects is currently seeking LEED Silver Certification for the Riverfront Professionals project.