The City of Upper Arlington is making strides toward a sustainable future at the Bob Crane Community Center with the delivery of over 400 solar panels. These panels, which arrived at the construction site on July 24, 2024, were craned onto the roof, marking the start of an exciting new phase.

Illuminate USA, a solar panel manufacturer based in central Ohio, produced the state-of-the-art solar panels. This local production not only supports regional manufacturing but also reduces transportation emissions, making the project even more environmentally friendly.

The installation of the panels will be carried out by Scalo Solar, a trusted name in solar installations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The project is expected to take about a month to complete, during which the Bob Crane Community Center will be equipped with advanced solar technology that will help lower its energy costs and support Upper Arlington’s sustainability goals.

One of the most exciting aspects of this initiative is that visitors to the Bob Crane Community Center will be able to view real-time energy savings on a monitor located in the main lobby. The installation of solar panels is anticipated to significantly reduce the building’s operating costs for years to come. By tapping into solar energy, the facility will lessen its dependence on traditional power sources, leading to substantial long-term savings.

Adding solar panels is projected to reduce carbon emissions by an impressive 215 metric tons each year. To put this in perspective, this is equivalent to taking every diesel-powered vehicle owned by the City of Upper Arlington off the roads for an entire year.

The Bob Crane Community Center is set to become a central hub for recreation, fitness, and community activities in Upper Arlington. Construction is currently anticipated to be finished by spring 2025.