As one of the leading sustainable universities in the nation, Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to utilizing renewable energy to power their operations and reduce operating costs. In June of 2009, Bella Energy completed a prominent solar array on the Engineering Building of CSU’s Fort Collins campus.

The new solar energy system was installed to provide students, faculty and visitors with an eye-catching view of renewable energy in action, and to reduce CSU’s environmental footprint. The system can be seen from the central campus plaza and is positioned near the Lory Student Center. Funding for the project was provided in part through a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office.

The design called for a highly technical installation, utilizing a custom racking system that was craned into position during installation. Funding requirements and campus activities required a timely installation, so as not to disturb students. However, the Bella Energy team rose to the challenge and completed the complex and beautiful installation in only five days.

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Bella Energy’s resulting 18.9 kW solar energy system provides over 25,000 kWh of clean energy per year, and will reduce the annual carbon footprint of the Engineering Building by over 51,000 lbs of CO2. CSU’s new solar system provides an aesthetically pleasing and highly visual integration of solar energy into the CSU campus environment. The visibility of the design also helps demonstrate their commitment to renewable and sustainable energy, while providing a learning experience for the students.

Boulder County and Bella Energy have installed a 200kW solar electric systems on the Justice Center at 1777 6th Street, Boulder.

The project was financed using an innovative financial partnership with Conergy Finance Program that maximizes the County’s return on investment and minimizes up-front costs. Bella Energy designed and installed the systems.

Total energy production will be approximately 280,000 kilowatt hours per year, covering 15% of the building’s energy. A Fat Spaniel computer-based monitoring system will track energy production and consumption data, accessible to the public over the internet.

One third of the solar panels are ballasted at a 10degree tilt. The remaining two thirds are solar arrays mounted into the roof structure and tilted at a more efficient 30 degree. The system is made up of 673 Schott 300-watt commercial panels and 30 inverters.

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“A project of this scope started with visionary leadership from the County Commissioners and succeeded with great teamwork between Bella Energy and Boulder County staff. Together we met many design and engineering challenges.”

Jim Volpa

Business Development Director

Bella Energy provided solar electric systems and on-line data monitoring systems for Guadalupe Elementary and Antonito High School in San Luis Valley to reduce electricity bills and to educate students about renewable energy using an on-line monitoring system for schools called Solar Schoolhouse.

View Solar Schoolhouse Here

Bella Energy partnered with EMC Engineers, which operates energy efficiency programs for the San Luis Valley School District. EMC arranged for a grant to pay for energy efficiency renovations, including the solar systems.

The students can analyze and compare their energy production to other schools around the country. The 7 kilowatt ballasted system on the elementary school has a weather station that feeds production and usage data to the Fat Spaniel monitoring program.

Bella Energy installed monitoring equipment for the 5 kilowatt system on the high school that ties directly into EMC’s building automation system. Electricity bills should decrease $60 per month at the high school and $80 per month at the elementary school.

The San Luis Valley has the strongest solar resource in the state. Plentiful high altitude sunshine is perfect for solar energy production and the area is already tied to Denver through the utility grid so power easily reaches consumers. In fact, one industrial solar power plant is already operating in this solar harvest valley, and several more are planned in the next few years.

Left photo credit Darcy Varney

“We should all be doing our part to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and solar energy is the way to go here. As a school we want to set an example to the community and hopefully inspire them to install solar on their own houses. It’s easy because once a solar system is installed it really takes care of itself.”

Virgil Montoya

Maintenance Director

Guadalupe Elementary School

“The best part about this project is the educational aspect. Bella Energy hopes the Antonito kids will grow up excited and knowledgeable about renewable energy, especially since they have a lot of sunshine to harvest in the San Luis Valley.”

Andy Hoke

Project Manager

A Bella Energy 100 kilowatt solar system on Kent Denver School provides clean, renewable energy while teaching students about environmental stewardship.

Kent Denver is a private college preparatory middle/high school in South Denver that strives to build a community of responsible citizens.

The 100 kilowatt self-ballasted solar system is flat roof-mounted on the science buildings, producing more than 135,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year for over 20 years, with fixed costs per kilowatt at a time when Colorado electricity costs are increasing at roughly 7% per year.

“This unique financial model allows us to take advantage of renewable energy incentives not usually available to non-profit institutions.” said Todd Horn, Head of School.

Their new solar system project is the result of a partnership between Bella Energy and Conergy, a leading supplier of renewable energy technology. The system produces clean, renewable energy helping Xcel Energy meet the renewable energy goals required by Colorado voters.

“Bella Energy helped us pursue our sustainability goals and solar energy is both cost effective and efficient. The students can learn about a smart application of a new technology.”

Todd Horn

Head of School

Kent Denver

“Kent Denver is clearly dedicated to protecting the environment. Bella Energy engineered and designed this original solar system to start their energy efficiency efforts.”

Jim Volpa

Business Development

Whenever Buffalo Bill slept at his own Sheridan Inn in the late 1800s, his lights were powered by a threshing machine engine burning dirty coal. Today, if you stay there your lights will be powered by clean, green solar energy.

The Sheridan Inn has produced many firsts for the City of Sheridan. It installed the first indoor electricity in 1893, operated the first telephone service (from the Inn to a drugstore downtown!) and now it’s the first solar-powered hotel in town.

The Sheridan Historical Center, the non-profit organization that owns the Inn, raised $6M for renovations to make it a Green Historic Landmark. The Bella Energy 10 kilowatt solar system produces 100% of the Inn’s electrical needs and a geothermal energy borefield produces all its heat and hot water, both paid for by a USDA grant.

The Inn opened in 1893, welcoming folks arriving by train, including high-profile citizens such as Ernest Hemmingway and President Hoover. Buffalo Bill Cody was part owner and lived at the Inn whenever he took a break from his traveling Wild West Shows, often holding auditions from its massive front porch.

The Sheridan Inn was said by many to be the finest hotel between Chicago and San Francisco. It catered to big game hunting parties, locals who needed a place to stay while their homes were being built, and area ranchers spending weekends at the Inn. Some even kept their good clothes at the Inn for the next fancy party. Early prices were $1.00/day for a room, 25¢ for breakfast and 50¢ for lunch or dinner.

In 1893, a whistle blew at midnight signaling “lights out” for the 200 coal-powered lights.

After renovations, the Sheridan Inn will be open for business again offering 24 “mini-museum” rooms for overnight stays, all lit by solar power.

Sheridan Inn photo credit: Buffalo Bill Cody Sites

“I am really excited about our new solar system. Bella Energy did a great job designing the system so it doesn’t detract from the historic look of the hotel. I think it’s just wonderful. “

Edre Maier

Executive Director

Sheridan Heritage Center

“Bella Energy is pleased to be involved with preserving a landmark so important to the history of the West. It’s proof that it’s possible to retrofit solar energy into any older home and still integrate it with the original architectural design.

Jim Welch

CEO, Bella Energy

Bella Energy has donated a 10 kilowatt solar electric system to the City of Boulder for the George Reynolds Branch Library, 3595 Table Mesa Drive, valued at $35,000 after rebate.

The 10 kilowatt system:

• Provides 15,000 kilowatts hours of electric power, enough energy to drive a car once around the earth at the equator.

• Covers about 30% of the library’s annual energy needs.

• Saves the City $1,500 per year at 10 cents a kilowatt.

• Fixes electricity cost for the 30-year lifespan of the system, years in which the cost of electricity is predicted to increase at 3.5% a year.

• Prevents the burning of 150,000 pounds of coal.

• Reduces Boulder’s carbon dioxide emissions annually by 12 tons: that’s 2 male African elephants.

The City’s goal is also to educate the community about the benefits of renewable energy. The Reynolds Branch Library in south Boulder is ideally located on two busy roads (Table Mesa and Broadway) with a south-facing roof structure,which is, clearly visible from the road.

Additionally the library will have a Fat Spaniel computer based monitoring system with energy production and consumption data available to the public over the internet. Library employees can use the monitoring system’s information to change their energy consumption behaviors because they can see when and how much energy they use. School children can log on in their classroom and see how much energy the library energy plant is producing in that exact moment.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the city to showcase the benefits of solar energy.”

Jonathan Koehn

Environmental Affairs Manager

City of Boulder

“Bella Energy is committed to promoting clean independent solar energy for all community sectors including the public sector. The Reynolds Library is the first of many public buildings in the City of Boulder planned to go solar in the next year or so.”

Andrew McKenna

Bella Energy, Vice President

Bella Energy has installed unique solar roofing tiles on a Boulder family home. The big 7kW solar roofing tile system is a local example of the many building integrated solar equipment products increasingly making its way from the successful European solar industry.

“I was surprised by the breadth of solar products available,” said owner Danny Hassan. “We purchased Open Energy SolarSave roofing tiles instead of panels. They blend in beautifully with the roof.”

Skyrocketing energy costs motivated this Boulder family to find a long-term solution. Danny Hassan ran the numbers, calculated a 10 year payback period and said “The decision was a no-brainer. Plus, my wife and I wanted to set an example to our children how to live an environmentally consciousness life,” said Hassan. Based on 2007 usage, the Hassan family will offset roughly 85% of their electrical use.

“Our system will pay for itself in 10 years, after that is just gravy. If a person plans to live in their house for more than 10 years, this is the easiest financial decision they’ll ever make.”

Danny Hassan

Home Owner

“Instead of solar panels Danny Hassan chose to install solar tiles, an integrated roofing material that produces power and looks good on their roof. With Colorado’s Xcel Energy increasing electricity rates 38% this summer, knowing Danny, he is laughing all the way to the bank!”

John Shaw

Project Engineer, Sales

The largest residential solar electric system in Colorado is still standing after a Class F3 tornado blew through Northern Colorado on May 22. Tornados are rated 1-5, with 5 being the strongest.

The property has three 10 kilowatt systems, made up of 170 panels at 30 kilowatt each. The ground-mounted structures held up to 150 mph winds while telephone poles nearby snapped like toothpicks. And no flying panels either! Solar panels tipped at an angle can catch the wind like a sail, but these remained intact, producing power.

This 160-acre homestead is about 10 miles outside of Windsor, Colorado, the storm’s epicenter. On May 22, a Class F3 tornado left a three-quarter-mile-wide, 35-mile-long path through Windsor, a town of 16,000 residents, 70 miles north of Denver. Approximately 750 homes and businesses were damaged.

With the tornado came hail. Bella Energy uses panels with solar glass that is designed to stand up to one inch hail stones, so unfortunately one of the 10k system’s glass shattered when hit by huge baseball-size hail stones at 150 mph. This type of glass breaks into small rectangles like automotive glass and it stayed broken in the framing instead of spreading everywhere. Fortunately, the panels are still under warranty.

Bella Energy staff was on the property during the storm and took shelter at the house only a few feet from where the storm flattened a flagpole to the ground.

“We get a lot of wind out here so at first I wasn’t sure the systems would hold up. But after the storm I had to say to Bella Energy that they were right. Those panels didn’t blow away even in a tornado! Our power from the utility grid is down because the tornado took out the electricity poles, but the solar systems were still in operation.”

Homeowner

“The storm’s power and the damage it did were intense. Sure it was an adrenaline rush but it was really scary for a few minutes there! And loud! Three inch hail stones make a lot of noise!”

Adam Bowen

Project Engineer

A 40 kilowatt solar electric system powers pet toy manufacturer Kong Company at their headquarters and manufacturing facility in Golden, CO. Made up of 228 Conergy 175 watt modules the photovoltaic system covers 4,750 square feet of the building’s flat top roof, installed at a south facing 10 degree angle to collect energy from the sun.

This flat roofed solar system is unique because it is ballasted, or weighted down with heavy concrete pavers eliminating the need to penetrate the roof seal. The system produces approximately 54,000 kilowatt hours of AC electricity per year, has a five-year warranty (with panels warranted for 25 years) and will pay for itself in less than five years.

“This project is the future of solar electricity. Coloradoans are going to see more and more large solar projects like this in vacant fields and parking lots, on large commercial rooftops like Kong and sides of tall skyscrapers.”

Jim Welch

CEO, Bella Energy

The home of Fort Collins residents Renee and Gordon Rodda is a three bedroom, wood-framed, suburban house-ordinary except that it was cleverly engineered for minimal energy demand, using passive solar heating and natural convective cooling in the summer, low-energy-use CFL light bulbs, energy-efficient appliances and a xeriscaped low water use yard. A small 1.8 kilowatt east facing solar electric system from Bella Energy produces over 100% of their electricity and the investment was only about $6,000. In addition, the Roddas are selling excess to the utility grid.

Colorado’s net-metering law requires Xcel Energy to allow meters to spin both forwards and backwards for residential renewable energy producers. At the end of the year, Xcel Energy pays customers for the extra electricity.

In 2007 the Rodda family’s surplus was 200 kilowatt hours and they got a modest check for $10.

Photo Credit: @ copyright William A. Cotton Photography

“Photovoltaics are a win-win-win; the power company benefits, the consumer benefits, and the atmosphere benefits, but it’s not about the money, it’s the satisfaction in knowing that our little solar system produces all the electricity we need, meaning our personal electrical needs are not contributing to global warming.”

Gordon Rodda

Owner, Architect

“Coloradoans could satisfy all residential electric demand with renewable solar energy. Solar systems produce electricity during the power company’s demand peaks times and they’re happy to collect the extra power.”

Jim Welch

CEO of Bella Energy