Rooftop Solar - Page 2 - Montana Renewable Energy Association

28 Jul 2016

Solar Hot Water and Solar Electricity Cut Costs for Bozeman Affordable Housing Project

Community Scale, Rooftop Solar

This fall, the first residents will move in to the brand new 136-unit Larkspur Commons affordable housing development in Bozeman, serving residents earning less than 60% of the area’s median income. They may not know it yet, but two types of solar energy systems will reduce utility costs at their new home. Larkspur Commons is being built to include both a 4,000 square foot solar hot water system and a 12.42 kilowatt solar electric array on its roofs. Larkspur Commons is owned by a partnership that includes Homeword of Missoula and GMD Development of Seattle. According to Steve Dymoke, Vice…

27 May 2016

‘Solarize’ Makes Solar Simple for Missoula Couple

Rooftop Solar, Special Programs

Ever since they bought their first home 20 years ago, Ben and Peggy Schmidt of Missoula have had rooftop solar in mind. The Schmidts have always been environmentally conscious; they both have graduate degrees in environmental studies from the University of Montana, and today Ben works as an Air Quality Specialist for the county, and Peggy, who has an environmental education background, works as a preschool teacher. As Ben explains, “I think it’s important to take some personal responsibility to reduce our carbon emissions and do what we can to address a serious global issue.” When they first looked into…

29 Apr 2016

‘Solarize Missoula’ Spurs Homeowner to Fulfill Longtime Goal

Rooftop Solar, Special Programs

Gary Hawk of Missoula has had many occupations in his life—Congregationalist minister, professional woodworker, university professor—and now that he’s retired he has been able to fulfill a decades-long dream: owning a rooftop solar system. Gary’s interest in renewable energy dates back to the environmental movement of the ‘70s, when he first began to explore how his spiritual convictions converged with his environmental beliefs. It was clear to Gary that fossil fuel use was degrading the climate and the environment, and he has been attracted to renewable energy ever since. The ‘Solarize Missoula’ program was the catalyst Gary needed to fulfill…

11 Apr 2016

‘Aunty Joy’ Turns to Solar

Rooftop Solar

At an age of “almost 90,” Joy Des Rosier of Whitehall, Montana is not one to leave problems for future generations. Her late husband, who passed away in 2003, always had interest in wind and solar power. A couple of years ago Aunty Joy, as she is affectionately called by friends and family, decided to do a bit of research into what it would take for her to transition to a renewable energy system. Joy expressed her motivation in a phone interview: “We do need a better energy system, and I realize a lot of Montanans depend on coal, but…

30 Jan 2016

Solar Complements Ground-Source Heat Pump for Helena Family

Other Technologies, Rooftop Solar

When Katherine and Shahid Haque-Hausrath bought their home in South-Central Helena, one of their first tasks was to replace the antiquated, unsafe heating system. After considering their options they decided to install a ground-source heat pump. Ground-source heat pumps take advantage of the fact that the earth, just a few feet down, maintains a much more constant temperature year-round than the air. By using the ground as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer, ground-source heat pumps can heat and cool a home quite efficiently. The Haque-Hausraths liked the idea of reducing their heating bills as…

16 Dec 2015

Horse-Drawn Wagons Bring Solar to Remote Montana Ranch

Other Technologies, Rooftop Solar

Solar arrived this fall at a remote guest ranch in southwest Montana…and it came by horse-drawn wagon. The ranch is surrounded by wilderness, and all people and equipment must travel 13 miles by horse and wagon to access it. Motorized vehicles are prohibited by law. The off-grid ranch, which houses up to 30 people at peak season, was until recently powered by a diesel generator running 24 hours a day. Of course, that meant bringing in thousands of gallons of diesel by horse-drawn wagon, at great expense. This year, the ranch contracted with Independent Power Systems (IPS) of Bozeman to install…

30 Nov 2015

Solar, Energy Efficiency Revitalize Historic Borden’s Hotel

Rooftop Solar

Borden’s Hotel in downtown Whitehall, Montana has a colorful history as a saloon, hotel and dance hall dating back to 1913. But in the decades following the death of original owner Hilda Borden in 1971, the Whitehall landmark has been mostly vacant and fallen into disrepair. Several business owners tried and failed to make a go of it, stymied in part by the high energy bills of an old, leaky building. A 2009 fire proved to be the turning point for the old hotel. That fire, which destroyed five neighboring buildings but spared Borden’s Hotel, prompted the nonprofit Jefferson Local…

28 Oct 2015

Solar “An Easy Decision” for Watson Irrigation

Rooftop Solar

For Watson Irrigation of Townsend, Montana, solar was primarily a financial decision. “It penciled out quick and easy,” explains Konnor Kelsey, Watson Irrigation Operations Manager. “We’re expecting a seven year return on investment, and the warranties are ten years for the inverters and 25 years for the panels. Equipment that’s paid off while it’s still under warranty? It was an easy decision.” In fact, Konnor explains that the firm would have preferred to install a larger solar array, but was prevented from doing so by state law. Watson Irrigation’s solar array is 50 kilowatts, the maximum allowed by the state’s…

30 Jul 2015

Power Optimizers Maximize Solar Production on Bozeman Home

Rooftop Solar

Gary Weiner first considered solar for his Bozeman home about a decade ago. He liked the idea of getting his energy from a renewable source, not to mention the idea of increasing his property value with solar. But at the time, he decided it didn’t pencil out. “It was more expensive back then,” he recalls. His decision was partly based on the partial shading of his roof, which he believed would make rooftop solar impossible and require a costlier freestanding solar array. News about falling solar prices prompted him to take another look earlier this year. This time, Gary got…

30 Jun 2015

Solar-Powered Beer at the New Butte Brewing Company

Rooftop Solar

The Butte Brewing Company is a local legend. It opened in uptown Butte 1885, and though its doors shut in 1965, advertisements for its “Butte Special” beer still grace the sides of several historic uptown buildings. Tony and Teresa Olson, natives of Butte and Anaconda, respectively, bought rights to the Butte Brewing Company name and broke ground on a new home for the brewery in 2012. The Olsons were determined to honor the character of the old brewing company while bringing it into the 21st century, and sustainability was an important component of their plans from the beginning. The new…