Some city employees today spent a few hours in a classroom learning to install solar panels, in preparation for erecting the first of five solar-powered hot water heaters in Pittsburgh.
City electricians, plumbers, steamfitters, foremen and supervisors participated in the training led by Chuck Marken of Sandia National Laboratories.
They'll put to use what they learned tomorrow, when they install a solar-powered hot water system on the roof of a North Side firehouse.
The panels on the southern-facing side of the roof will capture the sun's energy to produce hot water for the kitchen, bathroom, and showers in the house. City officials say that will save taxpayers money in natural gas bills.
The city will follow this installation with other solar thermal installations next year.
Pittsburgh will host the two-day "Solar Cities Conference" at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Thursday and Friday.
