Article Contributed on: 6/23/2009 4:37:38 PM
LAKEWOOD, CO -- If you are standing nearby, a faint whirring sound can be heard as the five interconnected double-sided solar arrays begin to move in slow steady synchronization.
The experience lasts just seconds.
The robotic arrays quietly murmur to life every three minutes as a total of 50 of the latest in high-tech solar panels seek to automatically maximize their exposure to the sun as it arcs across the sky above Solterra. The double-sided panels will produce about 20 percent more energy than their more standard single-sided cousins.
Solterra is a luxurious master-planned residential community located in west metro Denver's foothills, just east of C-470 and Alameda Ave. Situated on the south-facing slopes of Green Mountain, in the developing Rooney Valley, the 300-acre community is an ideal setting for capturing the power of the sun.
The $90,000 high-tech solar grid is producing energy to help offset the cost of operating The Retreat, the 6,000 square-foot community center that is the centerpiece of Solterra, which is being developed by Carma Developers. The cost of the system is offset through an Xcel Energy rebate of $53,000 and a U.S. tax credit of $27,000. The actual cost to install the system: just $10,000.
Projected payback period: about three to five years.
That's good news for the growing number of residents living at Solterra, who, through a community homeowners association, will share in the cost of maintaining and powering The Retreat.
The initial equipment and installation funding were provided by Fossil Ridge Metropolitan District. The cutting-edge system is comprised of 10 Sanyo double-sided solar panels mounted on each of five Wattsun dual axis trackers. In total, the system is expected to produce about 2,550 kilowatt hours (KWH) per month.
The Retreat at Solterra is a graceful $4.8 million building and is the primary focal point of the community -- featuring a 50-foot four-sided tower of native Colorado stone. Featured on the grounds of The Retreat is a tiered two-level outdoor pool, the upper level of which is topped by a breathtaking view of world-renowned Red Rocks Park. The grounds are exquisitely landscaped with native drought-resistant flora and include three patios and courtyards, along with an intimate grass amphitheater that accommodates about 100 people for special events.
The inside of "The Retreat" marries well with its surroundings, providing grand views of the Dakota Ridge, Red Rocks Park and the foothills of the Rockies. Divided into two wings, the interior spaces run the gamut from the great hall for formal and friendly gatherings to an exercise room for yoga and pilates classes, along with an Italian-style fully-outfitted culinary center that will please the most discriminating of gourmet chefs.
Homes at Solterra currently begin in price from the high $400,000s and range up to about two million dollars.
To learn more go to www.LiveInAMasterpiece.com, phone 303.790.6611 or visit Solterra, located just east of C-470 at the new Alameda Ave. interchange.
# # #