AWARDS

Solar Power Generation USA Awards recognize projects and breakthroughs leading to the next stage of American solar.

Taking the prize for best Solar Collaboration was the SMPA Community Solar Project (located in the Paradox Valley in South Western Colorado), the largest community-owned solar garden in the United States. This award-winning solar installation – a tight collaboration between the San Miguel Power Association, the Clean Energy Collective, Martifer Solar and Sunsense – successfully navigated a whole host of challenges to be completed within budget and in record time with amazing attention to detail.

The unique ownership model of the project enables customers to purchase panels or offset their energy consumption at no direct cost to the utility itself. The structure of the partnership yields high returns to all parties and provides maximum production with minimal upkeep to all program participants.

Sunsense provided both design and turn-key installation services for the project.

The SunPower Intelegant Award recognizes residential and commercial dealer installations that exemplify SunPower’s commitment to excellence in aesthetics, quality, workmanship and customer satisfaction. This is an annual award open to the nearly 400 SunPower dealer partners throughout the United States. Sunsense received the 2010 Residential Intelegant Award and has now been honored with the prestigious 2013 Commercial Intelegant Award.

When approached with the opportunity to design a solar power system as part of the Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse modernization project, the design team at Sunsense saw only one solution to ensure maximum energy production despite the limited roof area and a newly constructed canopy. SunPower E Series solar panels with efficiencies of 20 percent were the perfect fit. Sunsense worked closely with SunPower engineers to craft a design that met both the building’s net-zero production targets as well as its very strict aesthetic requirements.

“The knowledge, experience, creativity, professionalism and patience this team brought to the table was a major factor in the success of the Aspinall Project,” said Jim Fredenburg, assistant project manager with The Beck Group.

The SunPower Intelegant Award recognizes residential SunPower solar-electric power system installations that exemplify SunPower’s commitment to excellence in aesthetics, quality and performance. Award-winning installations are selected for the quality of the design and installation as well as homeowner satisfaction.

The VISION House Aspen was constructed by Paradigm Construction, which selected Sunsense to install high efficiency, signature black SunPower solar panels. The Green Builder VISION House Program is a series of demonstration homes built around the country that showcase the implementation of green design, building techniques, and products and systems. Each house utilizes site-specific solutions for solving key green building issues including energy, water, land, resource use, waste management, and indoor environment quality.

“Outstanding… The result far exceeds my expectations…” said Gerry A. Hazelbaker, President of Paradigm Construction Corporation.

“We congratulate Sunsense for this noteworthy project,” said Jim Pape, president of SunPower’s residential and commercial business group. “As a SunPower dealer, they have demonstrated a level of quality and commitment exceeding our expectations, and we look forward to their continued success.”

Since 2008 Sunsense has installed solar systems on all 10 of the latest new homes that Habitat has built. Sunsense always donates part of the solar equipment and the installation labor is either donated by Sunsense or the employees completed the installation on their personal Saturday time. One of the Habitat homes in Rifle, CO has a 6kW system and was the first house in Garfield County to achieve a “net-zero” rating for energy use.

Scott Gilbert, President, Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley, says “The best indicator of true satisfaction is hiring a company again…. Well, we are thrilled with Sunsense’s professionalism and guidance…. proof of that is Habitat for Humanity has hired them again, 10 times!!!!”