The Conrad has gone solar! In February, thanks to the encouragement of our Board of Directors and the financial support of Raffaella and John Belanich and Bebe and Marvin Zigman, LJMS completed the installation of an array of solar panels on the roof of The Conrad. With 237 panels each generating 425W, expected monthly savings in energy costs are projected to be 25 percent, or more than $1.3 million over the next 30 years! “Having a solar array system at The Conrad has been and is important to La Jolla Music Society’s Board of Directors,” says LJMS President and CEO Todd Schultz. “It’s important to us as a performance venue and as a participating member of this community to make every effort possible to minimize environmental impact. Although our primary mission is in the performing arts, we can work in many other ways to improve the world we live in and to serve as good community partners. We’re grateful to our visionary board members who both encouraged us to make this project happen and provided the funding to make it possible.” Raffaella and John Belanich and Bebe and Marvin Zigman led fundraising efforts with major donations to cover the $307,000 cost of installation, which began in December 2021. The system was complete and energized in February 2022. Construction had to accommodate the venue’s full performance schedule so that performers and audiences were not affected. The panels are flat roof construction, ideal for this type of installation, and were installed above both The Baker-Baum Concert Hall and The JAI.
THE CONRAD GOES GREEN(ER), WITH SOLAR PANELS
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