RIVERSIDE, Calif., Nov. 24, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank's first solar power system -- a 48-kilowatt rooftop solar array -- has gone online at its Inland Empire Regional Center, located at 3484 Central Avenue in Riverside.
The two-story, 24,260-square-foot facility houses a branch and a commercial banking office.
In addition to augmenting the building's electrical supply with solar power, the bank also launched a sustainable re-landscaping and irrigation initiative that will reduce outdoor water consumption by at least 80 percent annually.
"We are constantly looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and the environmental renovation of our Riverside facility is part of that ongoing effort," said Dale Clark, senior vice president, Corporate Premises, who also oversees the bank's sustainability program. "The region's sunny weather and arid environment provide the ideal opportunity to apply the solar technology and landscape water management techniques that will ensure we operate in as an environmentally sustainable manner as possible."
Going Solar
The 48-kilowatt solar power array (total watts: 48,375 DC) consists of 276 photovoltaic panels that will provide up to 17 percent of the facility's daily power needs. The system, which can generate more than 77,400 kilowatt hours annually, was manufactured by San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower Corporation.
Based on expected performance, utility company rebate and federal tax incentives, system costs will be recovered during the first five years of operation. During its warranted 25-year lifespan, the system will eliminate the release of more than 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions -- the environmental equivalent of almost five million vehicle miles.
The Inland Empire Regional Center was retrofitted earlier with an "intelligent" building system to monitor and control the building's lighting and mechanical systems, which include current-technology air conditioning and heating.
Landscaping and Water Management
The bank also will begin replacing more than 6,000 square feet of high-maintenance turf grass -- a major water consumer -- with drought-tolerant Southwestern grasses, including Mexican Feather Grass and Pine Mulhy. Hardy, long-blooming trees and shrubs, such as Palo Verde, will be added to help shade the building and parking lot.
A rain-water collection system also will be installed, and will supply an upgraded irrigation system equipped with moisture and rain sensors. A bioswale drainage channel will filter overflow rain water before it enters public storm drains.
The landscape project was designed by noted California horticulturalist John Greenlee of John Greenlee and Associates Garden Design.
About City National
City National Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN). It is backed by $16.3 billion in total assets, and provides banking, investment and trust services through 62 offices, including 15 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada and New York City. The company and its eight majority-owned investment affiliates manage or administer $52.4 billion in client investment assets, including more than $33 billion under direct management.
For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.
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