Due to their design requirements, most fire and EMS stations have large areas of low-slope roof over apparatus bays, which can contribute to:

• Installing solar panels thereby lowering the electric demand
• Creating a green roof; improving the storm water absorption within site boundaries, lowering the surface temperature of the roof and minimizing solar gain
• Develop storm water collection for filtering/treatment and reuse for truck fills, toilets and urinals

Even for stations who use the areas over the bays for other floor areas, chances are that your building has the potential to be tall enough and to be sitting in a clearing where solar orientation and roofing configuration can make a difference in your energy use and in your solar technology implementation.

— Submitted by Dennis Ross, AIA, Pacheco Ross Architects, P.C.