The mouse’s house is going solar.
The Walt Disney World Resort recently installed a mouse-shaped solar power facility. The resort's 270-acre, 50-megawatt operation is expected generate enough solar power to operate two of its four Orlando theme parks, according to Chip and Co.
Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., built another 22-acre, 5-megawatt solar facility in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s ears near Epcot in 2016, but the new facility dwarfs the first solar effort. Disney officials say they expect the new installation will significantly reduce the company's net greenhouse gas emissions.
“What this allows us to do is to reduce greenhouse emission by tens of thousands of times per year, in addition to making great progress towards out zero net emission goal,” says Angie Renner, Disney’s environmental integration director.
Disney’s goal is to reduce emissions by 50 percent over 2012 levels by 2020. The new facility includes more than 500,000 solar panels.
Disney has invested in several other renewable energy projects, including the conversion of Disney’s bus fleet to a cleaner diesel fuel — R50, which is made from vegetable oil — that will ultimately reduce emissions by nearly one-half, Renner tells the Orlando Sentinel.
Cathryn Jakicic is healthcare industries editor of FacilitiesNet.com. For more information on hospital campuses and other medical facilities, visit Healthcare Facilities Today.
