Photo voltaic solar panels on the rooftop of the Basalt Regional Library. At 76 kW, the PV system will produce an estimated 95% of the building’s electricity, offsetting approximately 200,000 pounds of CO2 each year. A monitoring system located in the entrance lobby increases public awareness of solar energy while providing first-hand data and information. Visitors are able to track current power output, energy generation over time, solar irradiance, and more.

Two-thirds of the panels are flat-mounted on the south-facing angled sections of the roof. The remaining panels, located on the flat section of the roof, are arranged in a series of arrays tilted to match the exact angle of the slanted roofs. The effect is beautifully symmetrical and reinforces the building’s overall design.