A solar canopy is helping Cathedral City, Calif., lower operating costs, improve air quality and protect against rising energy costs.

Built using more than 1,600 photovoltaic solar panels, the canopy generates power while providing 170 covered parking spaces on the top floor of the civic center parking garage in Cathedral City. The canopy supports the city goal toward using clean, renewable energy and will reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by an estimated 514 tons each year.

“Solar energy allows us to leverage the most abundant natural resource in Southern California and safeguards us against energy rate increases,” said Paul Marchand, Cathedral City council member. “As a result, we're able to do more with the investment of our taxpayers and make the city a better place to live and work.”

Honeywell International Inc., headquartered in Morristown, N.J, installed the canopy and made energy-efficient upgrades to lighting and building controls in the civic center, fire stations and public works buildings.

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