Communications and automotive services company Cox Enterprises has completed the installation of what it said could be the largest solar thermal hot water facility in the state of Georgia.

The solar system was installed at the company’s Manheim Georgia facility to supply hot water to its auto detail operation.

Forty 4-by-10-inch solar thermal collectors were installed at Manheim, with the capacity to store 2,000 gallons of hot water heated by sunshine. The system was installed by Atlanta-based Radian Solar LLC.

In May, Cox announced the completion of a 112-kW photovoltaic (PV) system in another company site in Stockbridge, Georgia. The PV array is made up of 560 200-watt roof-mounted solar modules covering 10,000 square feet, making it the largest commercial PV system installed in the state.

"Renewable energy projects are good for the environment and the bottom line - especially with new stimulus incentives," said Mike Mannheimer, vice president of the supply chain services at Cox Enterprises.

Through its new solar hot water system, which uses the sun’s radiation for water heating, the company expects to reduce energy costs by as much as 50%.

Cox has laid out a national sustainability program called Cox Conserves that aims to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2017. The company has 77,000 employees.


-  Eric Dorente

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¹ http://coxenterprises.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=742