Environmental Leader

Piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons recently unveiled plans for a new solar cooling system – which is now the largest in the world. The company is housed in over 11 acres of buildings in Queens, many of which are hundreds of years old. The rooftops of these buildings will be home to the solar panels, which will provide power to the air conditioning and dehumidifying system that keep the pianos inside safe.

The solar system, which cost $875,000, was funded in part through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grants and federal tax credits. Steinway expects the system to be finished by late spring.

Currently, the wind and solar industries make up about 7 percent of the energy market. Experts predict that this could jump to 25 percent by 2030.

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