MoeM (<Click to Select State>)
Posts: 12
Posts: 12
Posted:
We're the first homeowners to mount a rooftop photovoltaic solar energy system in our HOA. Pix of the installation are viewable at
http://softsmart.com/SolarSystemSite/SolarSystemSite.html
Below are some system details to assist other HOAs. Remember, Amendment 37 makes systems like these financial feasible. I offer them as a proponent of taking steps as a society to rid ourselves of dependence upon middle east oil, fiefdoms, and the terrorists spawned in part by that dependence.
This is a very nice installation and shows most of the components associated with the system. This is a 24 175watt panel 4.2kw grid-tied system. The array overhangs the roof ridge by about 4-5". We extended the gutter 3" by placing 2 runs of 2x6 behind a new 1" fascia; we probably ought to have added a third. Brown flashing was custom bent by the roofers for our contractor. I may replace the stock 5" gutter with a 6" gutter with similar wavy profile. This is capture runnoff/drippage off the panels. The reason for designing the system popping over the ridge was simple: to maximize power generation. We estimate our all-electric 1800 sq ft townhome will receive 50% of its power from this system, considering our brand new efficient windows, a woodstove for main-floor heating, and attic insulation bumped to R38.
There are many ways to design PV systems. This one is known as "flush mount" even tho it's technically only parallel. Panels are raised 5.5" above the shingles w/3.5" clearance to their frames below. Plumbing vents happened to be located within any given panel's insides, and were trimmed off 3.5" above roofline; they did not require relocating. The UniRac rail system, certified in California, withstands sustained 120 mph wind, and uses 5 feet per ~22' rail run. We added 6 feet to the top and bottom rails to engineer this wind tolerance up around 140 mph estimated since we're in a very windy front range location and 2.5 stories off the ground, well exposed.
Main exterior components include an inverter (gray/blue box), a shutoff, and associated conduit (painted to match bldg exterior). A battery backup or combo system would require more/bigger electronics plus either an exterior or interior location for a bank of batteries in case the grid failed.
Our HOA provided default approval by failing to respond as per the technicalities of our Declarations requirements. Nonetheless, we worked with the architectural control committee to iron out their concerns, with one exception: "brown". Our HOA's resident senior architect is joined at the hip with brown trim exclusively. He demanded we *paint* the underside and frames of the top row of panels brown where they pop over the ridge so as to best blend, in his opinion, with the shingles. This would have voided a 25 yr OEM warranty on the $8000 worth of panels and possibly on all $24,000 worth of panels in the array. We said no and would have litigated it. We also nixxed the notion of spending an additional $1300 beyond our $17,000 out of pocket (after about $21,000 savings via Xcel rebate and IRS credit) to extend the lower roof by 9-12", which would have eliminated the ridge. We would have litigated that too, citing unreasonable aesthetic muscling and significant additional expense, citing section 2 of the state statute allowing solar installations at HOAs…all aspects of an as-yet unlitigated clause of the HOA solar statue.
A potential benefit to HOAs is reduced reroofing costs, since the roof is now shielded from elements save for 12" on either side of the array.
http://softsmart.com/SolarSystemSite/SolarSystemSite.html
Below are some system details to assist other HOAs. Remember, Amendment 37 makes systems like these financial feasible. I offer them as a proponent of taking steps as a society to rid ourselves of dependence upon middle east oil, fiefdoms, and the terrorists spawned in part by that dependence.
This is a very nice installation and shows most of the components associated with the system. This is a 24 175watt panel 4.2kw grid-tied system. The array overhangs the roof ridge by about 4-5". We extended the gutter 3" by placing 2 runs of 2x6 behind a new 1" fascia; we probably ought to have added a third. Brown flashing was custom bent by the roofers for our contractor. I may replace the stock 5" gutter with a 6" gutter with similar wavy profile. This is capture runnoff/drippage off the panels. The reason for designing the system popping over the ridge was simple: to maximize power generation. We estimate our all-electric 1800 sq ft townhome will receive 50% of its power from this system, considering our brand new efficient windows, a woodstove for main-floor heating, and attic insulation bumped to R38.
There are many ways to design PV systems. This one is known as "flush mount" even tho it's technically only parallel. Panels are raised 5.5" above the shingles w/3.5" clearance to their frames below. Plumbing vents happened to be located within any given panel's insides, and were trimmed off 3.5" above roofline; they did not require relocating. The UniRac rail system, certified in California, withstands sustained 120 mph wind, and uses 5 feet per ~22' rail run. We added 6 feet to the top and bottom rails to engineer this wind tolerance up around 140 mph estimated since we're in a very windy front range location and 2.5 stories off the ground, well exposed.
Main exterior components include an inverter (gray/blue box), a shutoff, and associated conduit (painted to match bldg exterior). A battery backup or combo system would require more/bigger electronics plus either an exterior or interior location for a bank of batteries in case the grid failed.
Our HOA provided default approval by failing to respond as per the technicalities of our Declarations requirements. Nonetheless, we worked with the architectural control committee to iron out their concerns, with one exception: "brown". Our HOA's resident senior architect is joined at the hip with brown trim exclusively. He demanded we *paint* the underside and frames of the top row of panels brown where they pop over the ridge so as to best blend, in his opinion, with the shingles. This would have voided a 25 yr OEM warranty on the $8000 worth of panels and possibly on all $24,000 worth of panels in the array. We said no and would have litigated it. We also nixxed the notion of spending an additional $1300 beyond our $17,000 out of pocket (after about $21,000 savings via Xcel rebate and IRS credit) to extend the lower roof by 9-12", which would have eliminated the ridge. We would have litigated that too, citing unreasonable aesthetic muscling and significant additional expense, citing section 2 of the state statute allowing solar installations at HOAs…all aspects of an as-yet unlitigated clause of the HOA solar statue.
A potential benefit to HOAs is reduced reroofing costs, since the roof is now shielded from elements save for 12" on either side of the array.
