United Solar, a leading global manufacturer of building-integrated and rooftop photovoltaics under its UNI-SOLAR brand – and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices – announced its UNI-SOLAR photovoltaic rooftop products will be utilized on a unique, first-ever new school construction project in Kentucky.

Morton Solar & Wind, LLC has been awarded a $2.16 million contract to install a 340KW photovoltaic system on the new Richardsville Elementary School currently under construction near Bowling Green, KY. The system will be the largest photovoltaic system in Kentucky to date and the school is projected to be the first net-zero energy elementary school in the U.S. A net-zero building produces as much energy as it uses.

"United Solar is very happy to be an integral part of an overall net-zero energy project that highlights our UNI-SOLAR rooftop industry-leading flexible, thin-film, low impact and low profile solar laminates," said Mark Morelli, president and CEO of United Solar's parent company, Energy Conversion Devices. "And doing so in a situation where today's environmentally-conscious school children are impacted both inside and outside the classroom is the best part of being involved."

The school will employ various energy efficiency technologies in addition to the photovoltaic system, including geothermal HVAC, active solar lighting, efficient kitchen strategies, ICF walls and energy efficient windows. The photovoltaic system will be a "grid-tied" system that will feed energy back into the power grid. The school will receive $0.22 per kilowatt/hour for the solar energy from the local utility company funded by the Green Power Partners program of Tennessee Valley Authority.

Morton Solar & Wind will be partnering with Advanced Electrical Systems of Louisville, KY, on the $2.4 million project. Morton Solar & Wind, LLC is a NABCEP certified renewable energy systems designer & installer based in Evansville, IN.