	SDA Projects:

	Residential Design

	Commercial New Building

	Commercial Rehab/Modification

	Government & Non-profit

	Schools & Colleges

	Public Utilities

	Power Systems Engineering

	Building Integrated PV

	Data Acquisition & Monitoring

Steven Strong's The Solar Electric House A consumer's guide to solar home design, by the pre-eminent authority on renewable energy systems.

first integrated PV system at a U.S. diplomatic post

SDA designs a new 'solar skin' for the US Mission to the United Nations

U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Geneva
state department photo

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Client: Overseas Buildings Operations, U.S. Department of State

Use: U.S. Diplomatic mission headquarters

Background:
The U.S. Department of State was renovating its 22-year-old headquarters of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and chose to showcase U.S. and Swiss cooperation as well as a commitment to the use of renewables. They crafted a public-private partnership of Swiss and American firms to design and install Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) arrays on the building's roofs and façades.

Special Features:

Solar Design Associates collaborated with State Department Architect Ron Tomasso, AIA, on the design for the project. Five other American and three Swiss companies were involved in the supply and installation of the BIPV systems.
SDA's design response features four types of building-integrated photovoltaics, including façade-mounted arrays, roof-mounted arrays, sloped glazing, and façade-integrated sunshades.
SDA worked with the local Swiss utility on interface with the utility distribution network and on matters of code compliance.
SDA also designed a data acquisition and monitoring system (DAS) with a large lobby display.
We provided technical support to the State Department during bidding, procurement and construction, and also full systems commissioning.

Outcome:

Excess power produced by the grid-interactive system is sold to Geneva's electricity grid at a green-power premium.
The Office of Buildings Operations expects to recoup capital costs in seven years. Officials plan to extend the concept to embassies and other diplomatic buildings worldwide.

The United States has launched a visible symbol of commitment to sustainable design in a busy overseas diplomatic post. A Swiss-American team installed the system, and the project is viewed as a prototype for future expansion.

Dedication of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Geneva"There is no better place to showcase U.S. technologies and to demonstrate international cooperation on green energy than in Geneva, a highly visible diplomatic center and the site of hundreds of international meetings each year."

Maj. Gen. Charles E. Williams, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Director, OBO U.S. Dept. of State

SDA staff excel at collaboration and team work.

In the United States: We collaborate with major architectural and engineering firms and partner with labor unions to field renewables from Maine to Hawaii.
Globally: We have fielded renewables in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, Canada, the US and the Caribbean. Leverage our experience managing challenging project logistics and coordinating a project team over long distances for a successful result.

SDA has helped dozens of federal, state and municipal government agencies power their facilities with renewable energy. We're familiar with government contracting requirements and would be pleased to help you green your agency.

View Solar Design's Entire Project Portfolio

Learn more about solar electricity, solar thermal and wind energy