Cinema West Theatres: Fairfax & Livermore
The Challenge
Dave Corkill, founder of Cinema West, a leading California movie theatre chain, wanted a sustainable and renewable energy solution for the historic Fairfax Theatre and for his brand new Livermore Cinemas Multiplex.
The Solution
For Cinema West Theatres’ historic Fairfax Theatre, SPG Solar designed and installed a system comprised of 170 Mitsubishi 185-watt solar modules, making it the first major motion picture cinema in America to go solar.
For Cinema West Theatres’ brand new Livermore Cinemas, SPG Solar designed and installed a 132.1 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system, making it the largest solar powered movie theater in the country. The installation was completed in less than two weeks, working around the theater’s showtime schedule, with minimal impact on the day-to-day business operations of the Cinema. The non-penetrating Solyndra thin film rooftop solar system contains more than 21 miles of tubular solar cells.
Noteworthy Achievements
- Cinema West’s Fairfax Theatre was the first major motion picture cinema in the US to go solar.
- Cinema West’s Livermore Cinemas is the largest solar powered movie theater in the country.*
- Cinema West’s Livermore Cinemas is the largest Solyndra (CIGS thin film) installation in North America.*
The Benefits
Cinema West – Fairfax Theatre
- The projected savings over the 25-year life of the system is of over $450,000.
- A State rebate and Federal tax credit helped pay for nearly half of the total system cost.
- The system is expected to pay for itself in 8 years.
Cinema West – Livermore Cinemas
- The solar power system will reduce electricity costs by 45 percent.
- The system qualified for a California Solar Initiative rebate, a 30 percent Federal Tax Credit and 5-year accelerated depreciation benefits.
- The unique shape of the roof and highly reflective “cool roof” surface made Solyndra the ideal technology for SPG Solar to deploy for the project.
The Green Line
The solar energy generated at Fairfax 5 Theatres and Livermore Cinemas will prevent over 2.25 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere by fossil-fueled power plants over the 25-year life of the system. That is equivalent to removing 768 cars off the road.
*At time of completion.
