Ready to solar? If its not sunny where you are right now,
then hopefully I can bring a little light to you with a review of an absolutely
fantastic solar installation completed by First Power and Light for the Federal
Government. Whats so fantastic, you say?
How about successfully completing the installation ahead of schedule? Of
premier installation work on the oldest Federal Building in Washington, D.C.?
Oh yeah, you heard me right.
Let me introduce you to the Mary
E. Switzer Building. Located in Washington, D.C., the Switzer building is the
oldest federal building in Washington, have been built in 1939. The Switzer building got its name from Mary
E. Switzer (February
16, 1900 – October 16, 1971), a public administrator and social reformer
who worked tirelessly to help those with disabilities. In fact, she helped shape the 1954 Vocational
Rehabilitation Act, which provided a great expansion of vocational
rehabilitation service for people
with disabilities. In this humble Solar Surfer’s
opinion, Mary E. Switzer was a wonderful person indeed!
The Switzer building was dedicated to Mary in 1973 and
since then has housed various government agency offices. Currently, the Switzer building serves as the
base for the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human
Services. In keeping with the spirit of progress and positive change so
inspired by Mary, the Switzer building is undergoing modernization to become a
certified High Performance Green Building. So, as we see, the full solar circle
begins to come into focus!
Enter the one, the only, First Power and Light. First
Power, through hard work and a focus on being the best, earned the coveted
contract to install solar on the Switzer building and help fulfill the Green
Building dream. The full 141 KW installation was supposed to take 70 days to
complete, but First Power got it done in 50! Not only that, but due to how hot
it got during the day, First Power could only work till 2pm. And when I say
First Power was under the gun to exceed expectations, this Solar Surfer’s not
joking. Due to how close the Switzer
building is to the White House, security personnel were all over the place!
I can tell ya that First Power has a lot of solar pride
in the Switzer Building and couldn’t be happier to not only spread the good
word of solar and save the earth, but to also honor a truly wonderful woman,
Mary E. Switzer.
And if the White House wants solar panels installed, I
think I know who they should call.
Stay Solar,
Stay Solar,
