Posts Tagged ‘Project of the Month’

Updates From Copenhagen’s Bella Center

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

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It’s not everyday there is an international meeting to discuss climate change in a building that shares the same name as your company. (Bella) Needless to say we are following the climate talks in Copenhagen and have been twittering little tidbits as we hear about them.

As previously posted, Alison Brown, a former Bella Energy employee is in Copenhagen reporting on the talks.

Here is the latest post from her experience there:

The Bella Center is filled to capacity with people, hopes, and excitement. Rumors are flying, and the excitement is growing. Today is the last day that all accredited people are allowed into the center, tomorrow only a third of civil society can enter, and the numbers will continue to shrink until Friday when no civil society will be allowed in. With little time left in the center, a certain level of frenzy is taking over the centers. At the same time, negotiators are ramping up for constant negotiations through Wednesday night.
At 1:30 youth lined the halls of the center carrying flags from every nation representing youth solidarity in our demands. We stand with the small island states. We stand with Bangladesh’s demands. We stand with Scotland. etc. I was holding Bahrain’s flag right standing between a Chinese guy holding Ecuador’s flag and an Australian guy holding a flag I couldn’t identify. The message was clear — we are all in this together regardless of nationality, age or political beliefs.
Impressively, this action was designed only 15 hours ago, the flags and signs were only finished printing minutes before the action began. It is this unity that is giving the youth movement its power. Faced with the promises of stalled talks, and unambitious resolutions at best, the youth has resolved to only grow their presence and influence in the coming months.

While contagious and powerful, this incredible drive to push the negotiators into a deal is also prompting confusion and rumors. Just over an hour ago cheers filled the hall saluting Canada for announcing emissions targets matching the IPCCs recommendations . A half hour later, the promise was proved to be a hoax.

But now, I must go attend the US youth planning meeting.

Case Study: CSU Engineering

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Solar Energy for Colorado State University

CSU-Solar-Energy
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.
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Case Study: Boulder County

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Justice Center, Boulder County Solar Energy Project

BCJC-header

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.

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Antonito Public School

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Antonito Schools, Colorado

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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.

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Kent School

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Solar photovoltaic array on Kent Denver School, South Denver, Colorado

Kent

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.

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Sheridan Inn

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Buffalo Bill’s Historic Sheridan Inn

Buffalo Bill's Inn

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.

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Reynolds Library

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

George Reynolds Public Library, Boulder, CO

Reynolds library

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.

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Windsor Tornado

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Bella Energy’s ground-mounted solar electric system survives class F3 tornado.

Windsor Tornado

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.

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Kong Pet Toys

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Photovoltaic array at Kong Company, Golden, CO

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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.

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Rodda Residence

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Solar Photovoltaic System, Renee and Gordon Rodda, Fort Collins, CO

Rodda

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.

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