While grounded in the past, the Boulder Jewish Community Center’s (Boulder JCC), is a contemporary interpretation of today’s sustainable design. This 52,444-square-foot, two-story educational community heritage center provides programs and services based in Jewish values and traditions in a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to connect, exchange ideas, learn and grow together.
Designed and built by Colorado-based RB+B Architects and Calcon Constructors, they desired to create something beautiful, functional and unique. Construction included a wing for daycare and education, a gymnasium and fitness center, a full commercial kitchen, a community hall with a state-of-the-art stage, a library, administrative offices and a large outdoor gathering area.
The Boulder JCC includes a 74.4kW PV array, installed by The Solar Revolution, located on multiple rooftops. The main rooftop is a highly visible and gently curved standing seam metal roof. In addition to solar on the main facility, a 7.2kW array is installed on the adjacent barn at the “Milk and Honey Farm.” The farm is 100% powered by solar and serves as a valuable tool for the Boulder JCC’s educational and preschool programs.
The Boulder JCC is a 501c3, non-profit organization. Sustainability, energy efficiency and education are a priority for their members.
The challenge was to find a cost-effective PV solution that presented an ROI, which would make the project a no-brainer from a financial standpoint. Reducing their monthly operating costs would enable them to invest more money into meaningful community programs.
Generous grants from the City of Boulder and Boulder County, aimed at helping non-profits go solar, made this project a reality. Visibility and educational opportunities afforded by the solar were important to both the Boulder JCC and the grant committees.
The project is designed to be 30% more energy efficient than standard construction. A 74.4kW PV array helps the Boulder JCC achieve this. The center also has a monitoring and informational kiosk located in the lobby, displaying specific project data.
The arrays are mounted on the roof using S-5-PVKIT 2.0, which provides a simple, secure,
economical and penetration-free method for attaching solar modules. Designed with the
installer in mind, its quick and easy installation minimizes the time installers spend on the roof.
The PVKIT’s pre-assembled components enabled installers to “direct-attach” PV modules to the roof’s standing seams using S-5! clamps and brackets, vs. a traditional rail mounting system. The new PV system reduces the Boulder JCC’s monthly operating costs, enabling them to invest more money into meaningful programs, and the highly visible PV system sends a strong message to the community where the Boulder JCC stands regarding environmental stewardship or future generations.
The pre-assembled PVKIT® used in rail-less solar PV mounting can save you in logistics and installation time. It is compatible with all S-5! clamps and most brackets. It fits all 30-46 mm module frames and offers multiple slots for wire management.
The S-5-S (“S” stands for snap-lock) is a non-penetrating, standing seam metal roof (SSMR) clamp. The S is designed for most popular vertical snap-together profiles -- typically with vertical dimensions of 1.5” (38 mm) and 1.75” (44 mm).
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