The Photovoltaic System Zion National Park is located in a remote area of southern Utah, where electrical power is not always reliable. Some of the energy is stored in batteries. When the utility company cannot provide power, the batteries fuel the cool towers, window controllers, cash registers, and computers. The reliance on daylighting and the lack of air-conditioning have greatly reduced the electrical loads. Using photovoltaics in combination with utility power provides a highly reliable power source.
Excess power is sold back to the power company.
Optimized Overhangs Daylighting and solar radiation enter the Zion National Park Visitor Center through the windows. The length and position of the window overhangs were determined based on the Zion Canyon latitude and weather patterns. During the summer, when it is undesirable for the sun's heat to enter the building, overhangs shade the windows. When the sun is low in the winter, it shines under the overhangs and into the building to provide solar heat. A south-facing Trombe wall provides most of the heating for the Zion Visitor Center.