Community Reinvestment Projects

Community Based Solar Hot Water

CCF is proud to commit funds to three solar hot water projects in Colorado communities that will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. Please note the RFP for solar hot water projects at commercial buildings closed on February 4, 2010.

Apex Center Parks and Recreation (Arvada, CO)

This project installed evacuated tube solar collectors on the roof of a 168,500 square-foot recreation center, which is expected to reduce about 54,000 therms of natural gas per year – the equivalent of natural gas usage in 59 average U.S. households. This conversion is expected to lower CO2 emissions up to 40%.  For more information click here.

Maple Terrace Apartments (Loveland, CO)

This project consists of 53 solar hot water panels that heat up 2,320 gallons of water per day for over 325 residents living in this affordable housing community. The system produces more than 20 million gallons of hot water throughout its 25-year lifespan. This saves the residents an annual amount of $5,000 that would otherwise be guzzled up by fossil fuels! 

The project is currently reducing about 32 metric tons of CO2e annually. View additional photos of Maple Terrace Apartments here.

City of Boulder Community Pools (Boulder, CO)

The City of Boulder will install solar collectors at two recreation centers.  Both have significant heating requirements for the pools and hot water systems. These solar-heated hot water projects are expected to offset nearly 28,000 therms of natural gas each year – the equivalent of natural gas use from 30 typical U.S. households - while reducing natural gas dependence by more than 40%, preventing approximately 152 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

The City of Steamboat Springs (Steamboat Springs, CO)

For this project CCF will install two flat plate solar collectors on the roof of the 8,400 square-foot Steamboat Springs Community Center. The facility is used 292 days out of the year and is built next to Highway 40 (the community's main street) within Steamboat Springs. The commercial kitchen, where the vast majority of hot water is used, is staffed with volunteers four days a week to prepare 6,000 meals annually for senior citizens and Meals On Wheels. The use of this solar energy to heat water is expected to reduce about 105 therms of natural gas per year.