Cincinnati Business Courier July 17, 2006 Article: "Zoo Goes Green on Inside, Too"
Dovetail's 2006 Cinci Solar Projects In The News Links
Cinci Zoo PV Installation Construction Photos

Cincinnati Charges Up with Solar Electric Power

Dovetail Solar & Wind: A Division of Dovetail Construction Company, Inc.
News Release
Two new green buildings feature large solar arrays

Cincinnati, Ohio, May 19, 2006:  Dovetail Solar & Wind, one of Ohio's leading providers of renewable energy systems, announced today the completion of two of the largest solar electric installations in the Cincinnati area as prominent elements of new green buildings.  See Melink Corporation solar array [CLICK HERE].

Zoo Goes Green
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden engaged Dovetail to install a 19.3 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on the Zoo's new Harold C. Schott Educational Center building. The Education Center, which is currently under construction, will be a dynamic facility that integrates the excitement and wonder of exploring a rain forest habitat with the creative approach to educating children and adults for which the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is nationally renowned.

The 31,000-square-foot Education Center, designed by CLR design inc. and Glaserworks, and being built by Turner Construction, will be home to the Zoo's expanded educational programs as well as a 250-seat general-purpose auditorium. Ten new classrooms will encircle a "Discovery Forest," a large round greenhouse containing both plants and animals that will greatly enrich the overall learning experience. The Center will accommodate overnight student groups and clubs that participate in the ever-popular Nocturnal Adventures program.

The solar system was installed by Dovetail working as a subcontractor to B&J Electric. It is one of several "green" building features incorporated into the Center. It uses 168 units of Evergreen Solar, Inc. 115 watt photovoltaic modules installed on the South facing roof. The DC power produced by this large array is converted into 208 volt AC power by five PV POWERED 4600 grid-tie inverters, and feeds into the building's standard electrical system. It will significantly reduce the external electrical power that will be required to operate the building. Any excess power that is generated by the solar system will automatically route to the utility power grid. This non-polluting, renewable energy system will avoid approximately 68,000 pounds of global warming CO2 from being produced annually by a traditional fossil fuel electric power plant.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The world famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden was rated the #1 attraction locally and one of the top zoos in the nation by Zagat Survey.  It has also been recognized by Child Magazine as one of "The 10 Best Zoos for Kids."  Over one million people visit the Zoo's award-winning exhibits, and more than 500 animal and 3000 plant species annually. The Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), is internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants, and engages in research and conservation projects worldwide. See: www.cincinnatizoo.org

Dovetail Solar & Wind
Established in 1997 and privately held, Dovetail Solar & Wind is one of the oldest and largest installers of solar and wind energy systems in Ohio. Dovetail is headquartered in Glouster, Ohio near Athens. The company opened a second location in Chagrin Falls, Ohio in January 2006 to address the growing renewable energy demand in Northern Ohio. In addition to the Cincinnati projects covered in this press release, Dovetail is experiencing strong customer demand across the state. The company plans to continue to invest in staff at both locations as well as open additional offices over the next several years to lead the expanding Ohio market for renewable energy. See: www.dovetailsolar.com.  Dovetail Solar & Wind, 10760Hooper Ridge Rd.. Glouster, OH 45732-9247,
Phone (740) 767-4070, Fax (740) 767-3335

Background information on renewable energy in Ohio: www.greenenergyohio.org
Background information on solar industry: http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsIndustry.htm

More Cincinnati Solar News:

Cinergy Solar Program Outlined at High Performance Solar Building Workshop. At the February 22, 2005 Million Solar Roofs seminar hosted by Green Energy Ohio at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, Cinergy Corp. outlined its solar photovoltaic installatoin program on homes, schools and commercial buildings in its Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky service territories.  See the workshop agenda [CLICK HERE].  Local news stories on the Cinergy solar installations include the Cincinnati Equirer on Jan. 2[CLICK HERE] Dec. 28[CLICK HERE]  Dec. 13[CLICK HERE]  Cincinnati Post Feb. 21[CLICK HERE]