In the first year of operation, the 350 kilowatt SunPower® solar carports are expected to avert the equivalent of estimated carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 520,000 pounds of coal burned or more than 52,000 gallons of gasoline consumed.* In addition, Voya estimates the solar carport system will provide 32% of the facility’s total energy, offsetting purchased utility power by the same percentage and delivering significant savings over the solar system’s estimated 30-year or longer lifespan.
“Clean energy was the start of our environmental sustainability efforts more than 13 years ago. It has expanded over the years to include a variety of environmental-sustainability aspects in nearly every facility we occupy, as well as every equipment-planning and purchasing decision we make,” said Maggie Parent, EVP and chief administrative officer, Voya Financial, Inc. “Our new Chandler facility advances our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, while capturing long-term savings – a win for our communities, Voya and the entire team who brought our vision to life.”
Voya worked with Arizona-based companies to design and build the system. Hawkins Design Group in Gilbert was responsible for the parking garage, solar, efficient LED lighting and controls systems. Chandler-based Sun Valley Solar Solutions collaborated with Hawkins during the system’s design phase, and was responsible for the complete installation of the SunPower photovoltaic (PV) system.
“Voya is a forward-thinking organization that understands that going solar is the best way to ensure a healthier bottom line while also contributing to a more sustainable community,” said Russ Patzer, CEO, Sun Valley Solar Solutions. “With this investment, Voya’s leadership sends a strong message that running a healthy business and contributing to a healthier environment are not mutually exclusive goals. Companies can do both. We’re extremely proud to have helped Voya with this important initiative.”
Voya’s new 150,000+-square-foot, state-of-the-art Chandler, Arizona, facility reflects Voya’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Additional eco-friendly features throughout the facility include: LED lighting with automatic controls; open-collaboration workspaces within 15 feet of windows to utilize a daylight-harvesting system that offsets the amount of lighting needed to properly light the space; HVAC temperature controls to allow heating/cooling of individual sections of the facility as occupancy needs change; digital signage to curb printing; building materials made from recycled content for carpeting, wall coverings, ceiling tiles, hardwoods and fabrics; and electric vehicle charging stations.
The Chandler site is one of Voya’s nine major facilities, as well as field offices and virtual employees, across the U.S. that feature environmentally sustainable practices and are home to more than 6,000 employees in total dedicated to helping customers achieve financial wellness. Among various enterprise functions, the Chandler office enables Voya to leverage the time zone difference to provide greater service to Voya’s Retirement and Employee Benefits customers throughout the U.S.
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.8 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $7.5 billion in revenue in 2019. The company had $606 billion in total assets under management and administration as of June 30, 2020. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company®. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as a 2020 World’s Most Admired Company by Fortune magazine; one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute; as a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index; and as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index by Disability:IN.
Since 2006, Sun Valley Solar Solutions has helped more nearly 9000 Arizona homeowners and businesses turn the state’s most abundant natural resource into immediate savings and a cleaner tomorrow. The company is accredited as a SunPower Authorized Dealer by SunPower Corp., holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, has won the Angie’s List Super Service Award five times, and was ranked #1 Solar Installer by Ranking Arizona – The Best of Arizona Business. Sun Valley Solar Solutions is NABCEP-certified and a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, AMICUS, the Electric League of Arizona, the U.S. Green Building Council, and LOCAL FIRST.
Hawkins Design Group, Inc. is a professional consulting electrical engineering design firm, specializing in electrical, lighting, sustainable design, commissioning and energy audit services. The group has completed more than 6,000 projects, and, as part of each project team, supplies their clients with Electrical System Designs that: maximize their capital investment; fulfill all project requirements; and are constructed within budget. The organization has a wealth of experience with many kinds of businesses and organizations, including industrial, health care, schools, mixed-use facilities, assisted living, commercial/retail, high-rise, hotels, data centers, fire stations, restaurants and churches. Whether for integrated systems or stand-alone projects, Hawkins Design enhances and adds value to their clients’ projects.
Headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley, SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) is a leading Distributed Generation Storage and Energy Services provider in North America. SunPower offers the only solar + storage solution designed and warranted by one company that gives customers control over electricity consumption and resiliency during power outages while providing cost savings to homeowners, businesses, governments, schools and utilities.
