Press
Redwood Credit Union flips the switch on significant rooftop solar project
New system provides 60% of power at administrative offices
Santa Rosa, CA (April 3, 2015) — Redwood Credit Union (RCU) completed this week the construction of a 2,036-panel rooftop solar array at its Administrative Offices at 3033 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa.
Designed and installed by Novato-based SolarCraft, the system produces up to 662 kilowatts of power and will provide an estimated 61 percent of the location’s annual electrical energy requirements. It is the latest environmentally responsible upgrade to the LEED-certified facility, which has served as the Credit Union’s headquarters since 2007.
“The addition of solar to our administrative building is a demonstration of our commitment to sustainable and earth-friendly practices. The additional benefit of long-term savings on power costs allows us to return even greater value to our 240,000 Members,” said Brett Martinez, Redwood Credit Union’s President & CEO.
Significant savings in electricity costs are expected to allow RCU to recover the cost of the system within seven years. ZFA Structural Engineers and Verisol, Inc. also provided consulting support for the project.
To accommodate ongoing growth in membership, staff and services, RCU purchased the 104,000-square-foot facility in 2005. The Credit Union then embarked on a significant and environmentally minded remodel of the site, employing measures that helped obtain the U.S. Green Building Council’s prestigious “LEED Silver” designation in 2008 – the first commercial building in Santa Rosa to do so.
The location now hosts more than 200 employees, including a local call center and branch, lending services, administrative and back office support staff. A large community room at the facility frequently serves as meeting and event space for local nonprofits and community organizations throughout the North Bay, at no charge to the organizations.
Redwood Credit Union’s sustainability programs include water-efficient restrooms and landscaping at several of their facilities, including their LEED-certified administrative offices; recycling programs at all locations; green-friendly services such as paperless online banking, bill pay and eStatements; loan discounts on qualified fuel-efficient vehicles; solar loans and an online green center where visitors can find tips on reducing waste, energy efficiency and more.
About Redwood Credit Union
Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution providing personal and business banking services to anyone living or working in the North Bay or San Francisco. As a financial cooperative focused on people not profit, RCU offers complete financial services including checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, online and mobile banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, investment and financial planning services and more. The Credit Union also offers a variety of insurance products and discount auto sales through its wholly-owned subsidiary. RCU currently has $2.5 billion in assets and serves over 242,000 Members with full-service branch locations from San Francisco to Ukiah, and more than 30,000 free network ATMs nationwide. RCU has a five-star Bauer Financial rating, and is rated Excellent by Weiss Ratings. For more information, please call 1 (800) 479-7928 or visit www.redwoodcu.org.