Newly installed Citrus College solar carports provide 567.6 kW-DC of solar energy for the Glendora, California campus.
The Citrus College solar carport installation consists of 8 solar carports, for a total of 567.6 kW-DC of renewable solar energy. This sustainably driven campus was founded in 1915, making it the oldest community college in Los Angeles County and the fifth oldest in California. Located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Citrus College enrolls more than 19,000 students annually.
Photo By: Fred Diamond
Leaders in Sustainability
The school serves as a national leader for sustainability initiatives. With inspiring sustainability goals, Citrus College has strategic plans to reduce energy and waste consumption. From curriculum to facility improvements, the commitment to clean energy is throughout the campus and its mission:
Citrus College Sustainability Mission Statement:
“Citrus College will promote an active learning and participatory environment, where students, faculty and staff are immersed in quality education and collaborate with peers and industry professionals to encourage and create sustainability awareness and social responsibility, thereby fostering the advancement of sustainable practices and conservation of resources for the college proper, community and nation as a whole.”
The college’s sustainability plan template was created in partnership with the California Energy Commission and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, making the plan the first of its kind in California. This plan expands beyond the campus, as it acts as a road map to guide all California Community Colleges towards a green future.
At the helm of this impressive initiative is Fred Diamond, the College’s Director of Facilities and Construction. Fred explained how the newly installed Citrus College solar carport system came to fruition within the College’s sustainability plan:
“Citrus College is a statewide leader in sustainability having completed three retro-commissioning (RCx) projects, numerous xeriscaping locations across campus and energy
Photo By: Fred Diamond
efficiency projects yielding savings of greater than 2.5 million kWh. With these highly successful projects completed, adding photovoltaic infrastructure made economic and sustainable sense.”
From Start to Finish
This solar carport project was completed by M Bar C Construction, from start to finish. When this opportunity initially crossed the desks of M Bar C, newly hired James Delaney took lead on the project. This project allowed M Bar C to provide our partners at Citrus College a streamlined and maximum efficiency process as engineering, procurement, construction, and installation was managed in house by M Bar C team members. Fred explained how this vertical integration benefited the parties involved:
“M Bar C performed as a leader from the onset of the project. Having a leadership acumen led to the implementation partnership with the College. The development of this relationship fostered growth, collaboration, and success for all parties, thereby saving time and resources while increasing quality. “
With installation happening in March 2020, our teams quickly adapted to COVID-19 regulations and mandates. Like the rest of the world, overnight, we created new processes and safety practices to ensure the protection of M Bar C crews and fellow Citrus College staff. Nevertheless, M Bar C crews persisted. Despite these challenges and vast process shifts, M Bar C crews continued the Citrus College solar carport installation, without delay.
The Citrus College solar carport system is a total of 8 solar photovoltaic carports, consisting of 1,419 LG 400W modules. The 567.6 kW-DC solar carport system will generate renewable energy for the Los Angeles County college. This constant stream of renewable energy will benefit the College by freeing up resources while allowing the College to better plan for future economic demands.