Solar PV & hot water (Boulder: houses, neighborhoods, new construction)

[Aggie]

Howdy. Any particular areas/neighborhoods/subdivisions that encourage solar panels for electricity and hot water, grey water reuse, passive solar designs, etc. Thanks.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Aggie

Howdy. Any particular areas/neighborhoods/subdivisions that encourage solar panels for electricity and hot water, grey water reuse, passive solar designs, etc. Thanks.

The gov. of Colorado signed a house bill not long ago that restricts what HOA's can do regarding "green" items, such as PV, solar water heating, etc. Grey water reclamation I do not know about as of yet.

Boulder recently went to a HERS rating system for getting building permits. This requires that the house meet a certain energy rating. IE a hers rating of 100 would be equal to the IECC 2004 code compliance, and a rating of 0 would be a Net 0 total independent home. To get these point you must use different types of materials / renewable energy items. There are thresholds that are in place in which tell you what rating the house may be. The most restrictive is a HERS rating of 10 for all houses at 4500sqft. and larger, these will certainly HAVE to have a PV system of some sort, Geo thermal heat for the house and a very solid insulated house.

I dont know if this answers your post that well, but basically this is to say that anywhere you go in Boulder you will be able to get permits for these types of systems very easy. And to add to this, as of recent years all New construction in boulder has to undergo a Solar Shading analysis to make sure that the shadow of a house cannot go within the lot of another house (minus the solar fence allowed per lot) To help people be able to get these alternative energy items.

Residential Wind generators are a bit hard to get to work in Boulder. There definatly is enough wind, but it comes in gusts instead of being a consistant 10mph wind.

If you are within Excel energy's area you can get up to a 55% rebate on a PV system up to a 10 watt system If I remember our energy meeting at work last week correctly.

[Katiana]

Thanks, Noahma. I'm glad you're on this board.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Thanks, Noahma. I'm glad you're on this board.

Your welcome, and thank you for the kind comment

[Aggie]

Originally Posted by Noahma

The gov. of Colorado signed a house bill not long ago that restricts what HOA's can do regarding "green" items, such as PV, solar water heating, etc. Grey water reclamation I do not know about as of yet.

... good info sniped ...

Noahma ... many thanks for the information! All good to hear and know. I've lived off-grid for about 8 years now, guess I'm a zero in y'alls rating

Is there any rainwater collection done up in your area? For landscape use and/or potable water? Thanks again.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Aggie

Noahma ... many thanks for the information! All good to hear and know. I've lived off-grid for about 8 years now, guess I'm a zero in y'alls rating

Is there any rainwater collection done up in your area? For landscape use and/or potable water? Thanks again.

Some information on Graywater Reuse and Rainwater Harvesting.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Aggie

Noahma ... many thanks for the information! All good to hear and know. I've lived off-grid for about 8 years now, guess I'm a zero in y'alls rating

Is there any rainwater collection done up in your area? For landscape use and/or potable water? Thanks again.

from what I have heard from some co-workers, rain water collection is illegal in Colorado. The water rights are pretty tight here.