SPARC: Solar Power for At-Risk Communities

The Energy Center of the Rockies is committed to making the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency accessible to everyone in our Front Range communities.  As part of our effort to meet this goal, we’ve created a new project: SPARC – Solar Power for At Risk Communities – to link the long-term cost savings of solar energy with those most in need of help controlling utility expenses.

We believe families should never have to decide between necessities like food or medical care and keeping the heat and lights on.  The SPARC program helps keep Colorado homes healthy, safe, and warm, by providing energy assistance to limited income residents with one of Colorado’s most abundant energy resources: the sun.

The SPARC program has met with both success and growing interest from homeowners, community leaders, and the architectural and development communities. With support from the Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, the StEPP Foundation, Energy Outreach Colorado, Xcel Energy, Boulder Housing Partners, and the City of Boulder, The ECR has installed solar hot water systems on 25 low-income residences in two Front Range neighborhoods. Each of these systems will help reduce a low-income household’s utility costs by more than $4,000 over the life of the equipment (based on current energy costs, which are projected to at least double).  In 2005 we will install a solar electric system on the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless as well as another 24 solar hot water systems in two additional neighborhoods. 

"Staff from Namaste Solar install the new PV system on the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless"

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless– the CRC secured a $50,000 grant from Xcel Energy’s Renewable Energy Trust for the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH). To implement the project, the CRC issued a request for proposals and selected local solar company, Namaste Solar to install the 10 kW project.  Namaste Solar donated a large portion of the system – about a third of the cost – as part of its company mission and vision to give back to the community. Each year the BSH plays a vital role in the Boulder community by providing overnight shelter and more than 50,000 hot meals to 160+ clients per day.  The Shelter’s new solar electric system will reduce electricity expense by approximately $5,000 per year for 30 years or more allowing them to reallocate energy dollars toward its mission: providing emergency and transitional assistance. This project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of many different entities coming together to help control the long-term costs of maintaining our critical human services in our community. 

Imagine! Foundation – The CRC worked with the Imagine! Foundation to secure a $40,000 grant from Boulder County’s Worthy Cause Program.  The Imagine! Foundation serves Boulder and Broomfield County residents with cognitive, developmental, physical, and health related disabilities, by providing educational and therapeutic services, job training and placement, housing, and support for families.  The grant will provide needed energy efficiency upgrades for Imagine! Foundation’s nine group homes, including new windows and high efficiency furnaces.  The CRC continues to work with the Imagine! Foundation to provide solutions that will help reduce energy costs and support its human services mission.

Holiday in the Sun – In 2004, the CRC was awarded an Energy Solutions Grant from Energy Outreach Colorado for the installation of solar hot water systems on 11 low-income homes in the Holiday Neighborhood of North Boulder. With the collaborative efforts of Boulder Housing Partners, Wonderland Hill Development Company, and Industrial Solar Technology, the systems were recently installed and are now helping to provide an ongoing monthly Holiday from high energy costs for neighborhood residents.

Montbello – In 2003, the StePP Foundation awarded the Center for ReSource Conservation $90,000 to install solar hot water systems on low-income homes in the Montbello neighborhood of Denver, CO. This project had the double benefit of reducing air emissions in a neighborhood that is polluted by industrial activity while permanently lowering utility expenses for 14 low-income homeowners in Montbello.

 

The CRC continues to work with low-income support organizations, developers, solar advocates and the City and County of Boulder to establish funding channels for solar hot water and electric systems that will help support low-income families.