Endurance Solar & Engineering

Boulder Energy Remodel

webmaster — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:17:10 +0000

This Boulder home includes energy monitoring, hydroncis (boilers and radient heat), solar hot water, solar PV and energy modeling. For this home we modeled it using computer software to determine the most energy efficient building and mechanical systems. We design and installed the mechanical system to fully integrate radiant heat and solar hot water.

Description:

2.34 kW solar PV system

8 panel hot water system

Radiant heat throughout the home

Components:

13- Canadian solar CSI 180 watt modules

13-Enphase M-190 micro inverters with monitoring system

8- Heliodyne solar collectors

1- 1400 gallon solar storage tank

1- Triangle Tube boiler

1- 80 gallon DHW hot water tank with internal coil

1-Callefi solar hot water monitoring system

Fort Collins Residential Solar PV

webmaster — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:17:11 +0000

This Fort Collins home had a 2.53 kW solar PV system installed on 2 roof surfaces with micro inverters to prevent potential shading problems.

Description

2.53kW Solar PV System

Components

11 – 230 watt REC Modules

11 – Enphase M190 Micro Inverters

1 – Enphase Envoy with Online Monitoring

Windsor Residential Solar PV

webmaster — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:53:28 +0000

This Windsor, CO home has 30 solar panels flush mounted on a tile roof. It includes an extensive battery backup system, so if the utility’s power goes out, this home will be the only one on the block that still has power!

Description:

7.2 kW Flush Mounted Solar PV System

Components:

30 REC 240 watt solar modules

1 PV Powered PVP4800 inverter

1 PV Powered PVP2500 inverter

1 Xantrex XW6048 inverter

12 Deka Batteries, total of 550 amp hours

1 e Gauge Monitoring System

The Denver Zoo Gasification

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:30:59 +0000

Above is a gasification demonstration (long for Poop to Power) we presented at the Zoo. We designed and installed the control system to turn the Zoo’s waste into electricity. This system is for demonstration only, but a larger system is being built that will capture 90% of the Dever Zoo’s waste.

What is Gasification?

The Gasification system that Endurance Solar and Engineering is building for the Denver Zoo will take 90% of the Zoo’s waste and turn it in to energy. The system first consolidates the waste, and then it is burned. The natural gas emitted from burning the waste produces clean energy for the Zoo! This will contribute to 10% of the Zoo’s energy use.

Endurance Solar and Engineering also helped to build a Thai Tuk Tuk (above) with a gasification system on the back to produce power and give Zoo patrons a ride around the Zoo at events!

City of Aspen Solar PV trailer

webmaster — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:01:38 +0000

The city of Aspen was looking for a portable solar trailer to be used for powering PA systems and more at events (in partnership with Aspen Solar). When not it use, “Sunny the Solar Roller” feeds power back to the grid!

Description:

455 watt solar PV portable trailer

Components:

2- Evergreen 205 watt solar modules

1- Xantrex C35 Charge Controller

1- Outback GTFX2524 Inverter

4- Deka 8G4D Batteries, 370 amp hours

Arvada Residential solar PV

webmaster — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:16:13 +0000

This home in Arvada, CO has a 3.91 kW Solar PV system installed on its south and east facing roofs. It includes Enphase micro-inverters which were installed on each panel to accommodate any potential shading issues.

Description:

3.91 kW Solar PV System

Components:

17- Solon 230 watt modules

17- Enphase M190 Micro Inverters

1- Enphase Envoy with Online Monitoring

Lafayette Residential Solar PV

webmaster — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:09:54 +0000

This Lafayette, CO home had a 4.6 kW solar electric PV ground mount system installed. The footings for the solar rack are 4 feet deep into the ground, (as per code) assuring the solar array will not move, even in very high wind. The PV Powered solar inverter has wiring running 50 yds from the PV array to the house in a trench that is 2 feet deep.

Description:

4.6 kW Solar PV ground mount

Components:

20- REC 230 watt modules

1- PV Powered PVP4800 inverter

1- TED monitoring system

Solar Overview – What is Solar and Why?

webmaster — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:50:42 +0000

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Let’s start with “What is Solar?” Solar is the capture of the sun’s energy. There are two ways we can do this. The First is through Photovoltaics, which is the direct conversion of light into direct current electricity. This is known as Solar PV or Solar Electric. Solar PV systems when installed on a home or business offsets your electrical usage and reduces your electric utility bill.

The Second is Solar Thermal which harnesses heat energy. This is also known as Solar Hot Water. When a Solar Thermal System is installed, it offsets your hot water needs. This can offset your electrical and/or your gas usage depending on what system you currently use to heat water.

Solar PV. As I talked about earlier, Solar PV systems produce Direct Current (DC) Electricity and you home or business uses Alternating Current (AC) Electricity. Because of this, another electrical component is required. This is called an Inverter. An inverter is mounted between the solar panels and your electrical panel (aka breaker panel) to convert your solar energy to usable AC electricity. There are a couple of different types of inverters which we will go into in another blog. Components of a Solar PV system include: Panels, Inverter(s), wiring and a racking system.

Solar Thermal Systems harness the sun’s heat energy to offset your hot water use. Solar Thermal panels are basically large copper radiators built to optimize the sun’s heat energy. In most cases we create a closed loop of fluid that runs from a heat exchanger in your mechanical roof to the solar thermal panels. This fluid runs through a heat exchanger and transfers that heat to a hot water tank. This tank then acts as a feed of pre-heated water to your current hot water system (boiler, hot water heater, ect…). Solar thermal systems are all custom designed and built to integrate with your current system and can offset domestic hot water, in-floor radiant heat, base board heat, hot tubs, industrial applications and anything else you heat.

What about aesthetics? Solar can be installed in a very attractive manner and a not so attractive manor. Your solar installer will work with you to choose panels that compliment the look of your house. Considerations include: panel color, type of racking system, orientation and mounting.

Now that we’ve answered the what, let’s focus on the why. Right now, solar electric systems are down right cheap. The main raw ingredient in solar PV panels, silicon, has dropped in price and a competitive marketplace has forced manufacturers to cut costs. This, combined some of the most generous incentives in history make this the perfect storm for solar.

What does solar actually cost? Let’s use the example of a typical 3000 watt (3kW) roof mounted PV system. The market price for this is around $5.50 per watt. $5.50 x 3000watts equals $16,500. After this price, we start to subtract the cash rebates. Xcel currently offers a rebate of $2.45 per watt rebate, so $7,350 off of our system. Then, the federal government offers a 30% federal tax credit on the remainder of the system. Here is the math:
3000 watt system price $16,500
Xcel rebate $7350
30% Federal Tax Credit $2760
Total after rebates/incentives $6,390
Many other utility company rebates can be combined with state rebates for even more savings.

Purchasing solar today hedges you again future energy inflation. The solar market may fluctuate, incentives will vary, but it is fair to assume that energy prices will continue to rise. Over the last 10 years, electricity prices have risen 45% and many think the next will outpace that. Now is a very good time to invest in solar.

Solar is also good for the economy, the environment and the energy infrastructure. Producing power from solar puts less stress on our grid and decentralizes energy production. Solar is a net positive environmental impact. It takes about one year to payback the energy used to produce a solar PV panel that will last 30 times that. It is also good for the economy. Choosing a local solar company keeps money in your area. As you’ve seen in the example above, spending $6,350 puts $16,500 into the local economy.

Solar is the production of energy at your house. It is good for the environment, the grid, the economy and with incentives and rebates, now is a great time to go solar!

Thanks for reading. Shoot us any questions or comments you may have.
Stephen

Avago Technologies, Fort Collins, Solar Hot Water

webmaster — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:29:15 +0000

At Avago Technologies in Fort Collins, CO, we installed a 3 panel solar hot water system, which offsets the men’s & women’s showers in the facility.

Backside of the south facing solar thermal panels on the roof of Avago Technologies in Fort Collins, CO.

Insulated pipes (black foam insulation) leaving the mechanical room.

Nearly 200 ft of insulated pipe run down a long crowded corridor.

Avago 120 gallon solar hot water storage tank in the mechanical room.

Boulder Solar PV and Solar Hot Water

webmaster — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:18:39 +0000

This Boulder, CO home had a dual solar PV pole mount installed 150 yards from the house on rocky terrain. It also had 2 solar hot water panels installed on the home’s roof.

Description

2.99 kW Pole Mounted PV System with Room for Expansion

2 Panel Solar Thermal System. Offsets Domestic Hot Water

Components

13 – 230 watt BP Solar Panels,

1 – SMA SB5000 watt Inverter

1 – TED Wireless Whole Home Monitoring System

2 – Heliodyne 4’x 8’ Solar Thermal Panels,

1 – Helio-pak HPAK 16 Pro