TREE POWER

Buckhead-based company plants “solar energy tree”

Hannah Solar, a Buckhead-based company that designs and integrates solar technology, has installed the first “solar energy tree” structure in the state of Georgia.

The structure, designed and manufactured by Spotlight Solar, was planted at the company’s Collier Road headquarters on the first day of spring. The bright orange, artistic structure stands 22 feet tall and incorporates 12 distinctive Lumos solar panels.

The tree will provide enough energy through Hannah Solar’s electric vehicle charging stations to power a Nissan Leaf over 6,000 miles each year.

The newly renovated Atlanta headquarters of Hannah Solar, which was founded in 2008, incorporates 254 rooftop solar modules, making more energy than the building and its’ 23 employees consume. The solar tree provides more energy to help power Hannah Solar’s electric vehicle charging stations. The solar tree will produce over 120,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy over its lifetime and eliminate pollution equivalent to burning 9,000 gallons of gasoline, while saving over $15,000 in electric energy costs or $31,500 in gas costs.

“We hope these structures will foster the adoption of renewable energy and environmental stewardship while educating consumers and businesses alike about the importance of solar energy to their business and the rapid development of a multi-billion dollar industry in our state,” said Peter H. Marte, CEO of Hannah Solar.

The state of Georgia is the fastest growing solar market in the United States, ranking 7th nationally in solar electric capacity. In 2013, $189 million was invested in Georgia to install solar for home, business and utility use. There is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 10,600 homes.

For more information about Hannah Solar, visit hannahsolar.com.

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