July 2009 Denver/Boulder Solar Group Purchase
Sign ups for this campaign have ended but you can sign up to be part of our next campaign. We’ll be launching another campaign soon, so stay tuned!
We’re proud to announce that we’ve selected REC as the installer for the greater Denver area 1BOG campaign including Boulder, Aurora, Longmont, Littleton and more.
If you’ve signed up to be a part of the Denver area 1BOG campaign, we will be contacting you soon by phone and by email. Once we have gotten in touch with you and you’re ready for a home evaluation, we will pass along your information to REC who will schedule your free home evaluation. If you haven’t signed up already, please sign up today to get started with a free home evaluation. If you’re ready to get going today, you can speed up the process by contacting Cameron at Cameron@1bog.org or 303-351-5258
Selected Solar Installer
Recognized industry-wide for the depth, breadth, and quality of their solar design, engineering and installation services, REC Solar is providing 1BOG members with quality installation at a fantastic price. REC Solar was founded in 1997 in San Luis Obispo, California, by two engineering alumni of California Polytechnic State University. The founders’ commitment to renewable energy and conservation has attracted a team of dedicated professionals over the years, whose passion for the environment extends well beyond the workplace. According to the California Solar Initiative (CSI), for the past two years REC Solar has installed more solar electric systems in the United States than any other company. This is a direct result of REC Solar’s unwavering commitment to delivering excellent results for their customers, for each and every installation. Solar system owners can depend on REC Solar’s dedicated, professional staff to do the job right and complete it on time and within budget.
Campaign Timeline
- June 1st – RFP process begins – 1BOG kicks off the vendor selection process and chooses a solar installer for the group.
- July 6th – Campaign begins – We’ll start getting in touch with signed up members in the Denver area. Once we get in touch with you and you’re ready to get a home evaluation, we’ll pass your information along to REC and a REC rep will evaluate your home for solar energy. During this time we continue to grow the group with the help of our members and volunteers.
- August 28th- Sign ups end (DEADLINE EXTENDED!)- Sign ups for this campaign end on this date – anyone signed up after this date will be stored in the system and contacted for the next campaign. REC will continue to evaluate homes and give proposals to participants under the 1BOG negotiated pricing after this date.
- September 21st – Campaign ends – You will need to have had contact with us and received a solar evaluation from the installer by this date.
How Much Does Solar Energy Cost in this Campaign?
The negotiated price for 1BOG members is $6.10/DC Watt! This is a fantastic price for high quality panels and installation. Below are estimated costs for a 3kW system and a 6kW system including the 1BOG discount, state, and federal rebate.
Your system size will be determined by how much electricity you use, what your available roof space is, and your personal motivations. The REC representative will work with you to design the best system for your needs. They will perform a home evaluation and provide you with a proposal under the 1BOG pricing terms, and show you your electricity savings and return on your investment.
Each home is different and there are some possible adjustments based on the home itself. However, these are industry standard and set in stone. Laying these costs out upfront ensures that everyone in the group is getting the same thing and it’s easy to understand. If you have questions about pricing after you receive a proposal, you can always bounce the proposal off of us to make sure that everything is right.
Here are all the possible things that can incur extra costs:
Most of these are minimal added costs. Keep in mind about 75% of homes in the Denver area don’t have additional costs, so it’s a good area for solar. The only thing that can sometimes be a hefty adder are ground mounts (you have to build the infrastructure they sit on) and heavy electrical upgrades. These systems still pencil out, we’re only talking cents/watt for these. We’re transparent with the adder list because we want to make sure we’re very clear about all aspects of pricing.
The Solar Products Offered by REC in the Campaign
Solar Panels - The AE-Series panels offered through our campaign are manufactured by The REC Group (not the same company as REC Solar, the installer we selected…. we know, we know, it’s strange). REC Group is cool because they are vertically integrated and own the silicon production. That means in addition to being able to sell the silicon to other manufacturers, they can forcast production and cost. All that means is the chance that REC Group is around in 25 years to service the warranties on their panels is better than the vast majority of manufacturers. The AE-Series are polycrystalline modules with a 13- 14% efficiency and STC wattages from 205-230 watts. The panels include a 5 year workmanship guarantee and a 25 year power output warranty. REC AE-Series panels are the perfect choice for building solar systems that combine long lasting product quality with reliable power output. REC offers a very wide array of products so you can always explore other panels options if you want, but other panels may be at a slightly higher price than the 1BOG discount.
Inverters – REC will be using SMA and Enphase inverters for this program.
Monitoring - REC is giving 1BOG members FREE Blueline PowerCost monitoring that shows how much electricity your home is using in real time. They are also offering complete SMA Sunny Webbox/Sunny Portal production side web monitoring systems for an additional cost of $900.
Online Solar Webinar Info Sessions
This recorded webinar covers the following information:
- Basics of solar
- Determining a system size
- Understanding your utility bills
- Current rebates and incentives
- 1BOG background and benefits
- 1BOG Denver process
- How to buy your solar system
Untitled from David Llorens on Vimeo.
Who do I contact?
You don’t have to do anything, we’ll give you a buzz and explain the basics of the campaign, no commitment. If you want to get a site evaluation after that, we pass your information to the solar installer and they send someone over to check out your roof and electrical system (again, no commitment). Then they give you a proposal under the 1bog program pricing and you decide if you want to do it or not. If you don’t want to wait for us to call you, you can call us.
The program specialist for the greater Denver area is Cameron, his number 303-351-5258. You can also email him at Cameron@1bog.org.
Coverage Area of the 1BOG Denver Group Purchase Program
Here’s the map of the coverage area, if you’re located within the purple outline, you’re included in the program.
If you’re outside the area, that shouldn’t stop you from signing up. If we get enough sign ups in a particular area we could renegotiate inclusion or run a separate group purchase.
1BOG Denver Solar Q and A Forum
Sends us questions and we’ll be sure to answer them. We love to hear from you.
I am developing some property in southern Colorado near Trinidad. I would like to purchase enough solar panels for an 8 Kilowatt stand alone system. I already have the charge controllers and Inverters. They are manufactured by Trace Engineering. I just need to purchase batteries and panels. Will you please let me know if I can participate in your campaign? – Allen 7/2/09
Hi Allen, unfortunately, that’s outside the coverage area for the Denver Solar Program, and 1BOG only partners with installation companies to provide turnkey systems. I think as we grow we may be able to offer some DIY options or aggregate material purchasing, but not in the short term.
Will REC float the rebate from excel as other installers do? If so, will they charge a fee for this? – Richard 7/3/09
Hi Richard, yes, they will float the Xcel rebate, so it comes off the top of the gross cost and you don’t have to pay it. There is no fee for this.
I have a flat roof (townhome with 2 stories in front and 3 in back) and am concerned about the weight of the system and possible damage to the roof. – Jan 7/6/09
Hi Jan. REC will work with you on your roof warranty and their own installation is covered for 10 years. The representative from REC can speak in detail to their warranty, but can assuredly appease any worries to roof damage. As far as weight goes, solar is not too heavy and meets coding. The actual bigger concern on a flat roof is from up force (from wind) not down force, as Denver can get some high winds. All the mounting is done with the proper specifications to account for the high winds in the area.
Good to see this coming together. I live outside of the coverage area (Castle Rock). Any chance that the deals could extend a little further south? – Marc 7/6/09
Marc, for that distance, you’d probably have to have 3 or 4 people relatively close together around there that are pretty gung-ho “yes” to go solar, to make a special trip outside of the program area. REC could probably do remote estimations, and if there are a small handful of people very interested, my guess is they would be ok with this, I would have to check with them of course.
It appears that I am on the border or slightly outside the coverage area. My address is: XXXXXXXX Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Please advise. Thank You – Brian 7/6/09
Brian, Highlands Ranch has been very receptive, and it’s included in the program, there is plenty of clustering to make sure it’s included. I will have them update the coverage map. – *UPDATE* map coverage area updated on this page 7/7/09
How are the panels anchored to my roof and how much wind can they with stand before they would be ripped from their anchors? - Alan 7/7/09
From REC’s Cary Hayes – The front range of Colorado gets hurricane force winds about 3 times a year….We understand the incredible wind loads required for PV in Colorado, and work with local permitting agencies, as well as our own stringent engineering standards, to ensure our installations exceed the prevailing wind load characteristics. It is not uncommon to see 100+ mph wind gusts…We engineer for this, and take extra precautions with additional mounting brackets in especially wind prone areas of Boulder and Denver.
My roof just suffered some minor hail damage, how much impact can be panels take from hail? – Alan 7/7/09
The panels REC is using in Denver are rated by the California Energy Commission to withstand very large hail.
Here is REC’s answer: Solar Panels are UL tested for Hail resistance. They can withstand 1 inch hail at terminal velocity, or about 90 mph. They are very durable…You can walk on them, kick them, hit them etc and they will not be damaged. That said, the front range of Colorado gets BIG hail events….Isolated pockets of town have seen golf ball to softball size hail in the least ten years. It does happen. If solar panels are broken by a hailstorm on your roof, there are likely other casualties as well. Your roof is likely partially destroyed, your car windshields are broken, and you have major property damage. With this in mind, we ask you to call your homeowners insurance company and insure your panels. There is usually no cost associated with doing this. If a large hail event happens, and you file a claim, it is likely that your premiums would rise, but you would be covered.“
What would be the estimated cost for 1kW peak PV grid intertied and battery charge/transfer capability? - Prem 7/7/09
The minimum system size for this program is 2kW and REC does not do battery solar systems. While the advantage of a battery backup system is that power can remain available if the grid power goes out, batteries are an additional expense, only last 5-10 years, require maintenance, decrease system efficiency, and result in a more complicated system. If power outages are a large concern, it is most often more economical and reliable to purchase a generator instead of a battery backup solar energy system.
Hi- I am in Erie in the coverages area but have United power supply electricity. Do they have an Excel like rebate? – Jim 7/13/09
United Power does offer rebates for solar PV installations, however their funding is very limited and the program is currently closed. They are expected to re-open the program in within the next 6 months.
I live in Fort Collins, CO and am interested in the Denver solar PV install initiative. Would you be able to include Fort Collins residents who are interested. Looks like your map already shows some interest here and in LaPorte. – Dave 7/20/09
“If we get 100 qualified sign ups in that area we will run a program, like any city.”
Will REC install PV on a cedar shingle roof? I’ve heard different things from different installers. I really want PV but the cedar shingle roof installed by the former owner is only 5 years old. Seems to be a waste to replace it, not to mention expensive! – Jenny 8/06/09
Unfortunately, wood shake roofs are the most difficult type of roof to install on. Some companies do it, but it’s a hefty adder feed. In this program, you would have to re-roof first to go solar.
Is this program for businesses as well?-Mike 8/14/09
Dear Mike,
Go ahead and sign up. Businesses can be treated like homes in this program although the rebate may behave differently. The installer will be able to fill you in on details.
I have 3 rental properties that I would like to get solar installed on this year…more later if the results are as good as I’m hoping! – Rita 8/19/09
Dear Rita,
There is currently no easy solution for installing solar to rental properties. You should check with your Rent Board on how to turn some of the cost over to your renters. It is most likely that you can have an agreement with them to raise the rent slightly by a fixed fee in exchange for having solar, much like an amenity.
