State Capitol gets greener
Solar panels part of push to raise energy awareness
By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published November 17, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by Brian Lehmann / The Rocky
Workers from Bella Energy install solar panels on the roof of the state Capitol on Sunday. The 10-kilowatt project is meant to illustrate the value of alternative energy.
Fresh off of being honored for energy efficiency a month ago, the state Capitol took another step in its green makeover Sunday - installing a batch of solar panels.
Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien said the solar panels will provide some power for the building, although their primary functions include gathering data about west-facing solar panels and setting an example of how older buildings can be fitted with new alternative energy sources.
The Capitol was built in the 1890s.
"It's a really old building with surfaces that go in different directions, and to see the workers putting them up - you can see there is space, but not infinite space like a modern building with flat rooftops," O'Brien said.
Last month, Colorado's Capitol was the first in the nation to be honored with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification because of its low-energy lights, recycling and landscaping.
Primarily, the solar panel project is meant to illustrate the value of alternative energy - a cornerstone of Gov. Bill Ritter's administration.
But state officials acknowledge that the 10-kilowatt system at the Capitol will generate power that would be enough for only two homes.
The cost of the system, after rebates from Xcel Energy, will be $31,000.
Jim Welch, president and chief executive officer of Bella Energy, said they will use the energy data gathered from the system to determine how much solar energy is generated from west-facing panels as well as how older buildings such as the Capitol fare with the new energy.
He said most solar panels face south, which provides more sunlight than east- or west-facing panels.
A kiosk inside the Capitol will allow visitors to observe how much energy is being used in the building as well as the activity at two other systems at the governor's residence.
Once the installation is completed in roughly one to two weeks, monitoring of the system's activity will be located in "Mr. Brown's Attic" - the museum display in the dome.
O'Brien said that there are plans to install solar panels at a state building in Lakewood as well.
Those panels will support a much larger system, generating 100 kilowatts of power.
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November 17, 2008
6:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mike_In_Hartsel writes:
A "batch" of solar panels? Is that like a "herd" of bison, a "pod" of whales, and a "bevy" of quail?
What do we call a gathering of wind towers? This could be fun.
November 17, 2008
1:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
SoniaM writes:
Leading by example! I LOVE IT! Get ready for the renewable energy revolution!