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Study evaluates solar systems for city buildings
By Tom Munds
Englewood continued it “go green” effort as the city authorized a company to study the feasibility of installing solar systems on five municipal buildings.
Deputy Manager Mike Flaherty explained the proposal at the Nov. 16 Englewood City Council meeting. The council discussed the issue and voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.
Flaherty told the council the study would be an expansion of the city-authorized energy audit by Ameresco, contracting with the company to evaluate ways the city can make improvements to reduce energy consumption and pay for the improvements with utility bill savings.
He said the council is being asked to approve the contract amendment, which would allow Ameresco to conduct the solar system evaluation.
“Buildings included in the study include the Englewood Civic Center, the safety services building, the Malley Senior Recreation Center, the Englewood Recreation Center and the ServiCenter,” Flaherty said. “If solar systems are feasible for a site, Ameresco would design, develop and install the systems at no cost to the city.”
The proposal would be to install photovoltaic systems. That would involve placing of the familiar solar panels to collect energy from sunlight that the system converts into electricity.
The electricity generated by the solar system will power some systems in the buildings but isn’t capable of supplying all the electricity needed,” Flaherty said.
Councilmember Joe Jefferson asked who would maintain any system installed on city buildings and what would be the life expectancy of the system.
Flaherty said for the 20-year-term of the contract, Ameresco would retain ownership of the equipment and maintain it. However, he noted photovoltaic systems have no moving parts and generally the only required maintenance is to keep the solar panels clean. There would also be periodic checks of a key element called an inverter that electronically converts the solar energy into electricity.
He also said, because there are no moving parts, photovoltaic systems should continue operating at full capacity for 25 years or more.
Provided the study indicates the use of solar systems is feasible, the agreement with the city provides that Ameresco would provide the equipment and install it at no cost to Englewood. Ameresco would benefit because the company would receive the available tax credits benefits and the city would agree to buy the solar-generated electricity from Ameresco at a rate that will be fixed for the 20-year life of the contract.
“The initial rate is expected to be about a penny per kilowatt hour more than the current public service rate but, while the rate from Ameresco is locked in, it is expected the Public Service rate will increase over the years,” Flaherty said.
Deputy Manager Mike Flaherty explained the proposal at the Nov. 16 Englewood City Council meeting. The council discussed the issue and voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.
Flaherty told the council the study would be an expansion of the city-authorized energy audit by Ameresco, contracting with the company to evaluate ways the city can make improvements to reduce energy consumption and pay for the improvements with utility bill savings.
He said the council is being asked to approve the contract amendment, which would allow Ameresco to conduct the solar system evaluation.
“Buildings included in the study include the Englewood Civic Center, the safety services building, the Malley Senior Recreation Center, the Englewood Recreation Center and the ServiCenter,” Flaherty said. “If solar systems are feasible for a site, Ameresco would design, develop and install the systems at no cost to the city.”
The proposal would be to install photovoltaic systems. That would involve placing of the familiar solar panels to collect energy from sunlight that the system converts into electricity.
The electricity generated by the solar system will power some systems in the buildings but isn’t capable of supplying all the electricity needed,” Flaherty said.
Councilmember Joe Jefferson asked who would maintain any system installed on city buildings and what would be the life expectancy of the system.
Flaherty said for the 20-year-term of the contract, Ameresco would retain ownership of the equipment and maintain it. However, he noted photovoltaic systems have no moving parts and generally the only required maintenance is to keep the solar panels clean. There would also be periodic checks of a key element called an inverter that electronically converts the solar energy into electricity.
He also said, because there are no moving parts, photovoltaic systems should continue operating at full capacity for 25 years or more.
Provided the study indicates the use of solar systems is feasible, the agreement with the city provides that Ameresco would provide the equipment and install it at no cost to Englewood. Ameresco would benefit because the company would receive the available tax credits benefits and the city would agree to buy the solar-generated electricity from Ameresco at a rate that will be fixed for the 20-year life of the contract.
“The initial rate is expected to be about a penny per kilowatt hour more than the current public service rate but, while the rate from Ameresco is locked in, it is expected the Public Service rate will increase over the years,” Flaherty said.
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