Story at a glance:
- A new build in British Columbia features 28.35 kilowatts of PV mounted using the S-5-PVKIT® 2.0 solar attachment solution and the S-5-S clamp.
- The 3,500-square-foot multipurpose barn has a 24-gauge Cascadia Metals Black SMP standing seam metal roof.
- The solar panel system provides more than 100% of the electricity needed for the entire property.
When Bruce Goode, a retired cattle ranch owner and airline pilot, decided it was time to downsize, he knew he wanted his mountain escape to include a multipurpose barn that was both energy-efficient and able to stand the test of time.
Goode purchased an eight-acre equestrian estate with spectacular mountain and lake views of the Okanagan Valley area of British Columbia. The property includes a new 3,500-square-foot multipurpose barn with a 24-gauge Cascadia Metals Black SMP standing seam metal roof.
The spacious main floor of the new barn will be used as a workshop area with a tack room and riders’ lounge. The upper floor open loft area will be used as what he calls his hunting lodge/cowboy shack-themed retreat and entertainment area—complete with a hobby/work area for gunsmithing and another area for exercising.
The Challenge
Photo courtesy of Artisan Roofing
Goode’s goal was to construct a multipurpose building that would also serve as a mounting platform for a 28.35 kilowatt PV solar system, which would provide 100% of the electricity needs for the entire equestrian ranch property. He also needed a roof that would meet the expected 25- to 30-plus year service life of the PV system. Because the barn is located in the northern hemisphere, he needed to orient the roof and the solar panels for maximum solar gain.
The property is also within a forest interface area, so constructing a building using fire-resistant materials was preferred. Plus, Goode wanted to reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected release of snow on his new slick metal roof, eliminating any potential threat to the property and visiting guests below.
The Solution
Photo courtesy of Roost Solar
Goode specified a standing seam metal roof for its sustainability and durability, since it’s the only roof type with a service life that actually exceeds the service life of a solar PV system. This enabled him to avoid potential costly disassembly of the PV array, re-roofing, and re-assembly further down the road.
“Our timber-framed multipurpose barn was designed and constructed to withstand time and elements in a challenging western Canadian environment,” Goode says. “The barn was built with the exclusive use of durable, weatherproof, fireproof, and low-maintenance materials. To maximize the longevity potential of the barn’s roof, we chose a standing seam metal roof, which achieved our sustainability goals.”
The ridge line of the barn roof was oriented exactly due east/west to afford maximum solar gain for the 90 solar panels mounted on the south-facing upper roof and lower roof surfaces.
The S-5-PVKIT 2.0 solar solution (in black to match the black anodized PV frames) enabled solar installers to directly attach PV modules to the standing seams, eliminating the need for a traditional rail mounting system and providing a simple, secure, economical and penetration-free method for attaching the solar modules.
In the event of a nearby wildfire, a metal roof was chosen for its non-flammable, non-combustible properties, since it will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike, which also helps the owner save on insurance premiums.
Photo courtesy of Roost Solar
Goode says the metal roof provides an excellent platform for mounting the solar panels, and he looks forward to many years of benefits.
“I am confident the barn will provide trouble-free enjoyment for our family today and for many generations to come,” he says. “The metal roof is performing exceedingly well, easily withstanding the heavy snow loads expected in British Columbia along with a couple of wind storms to date.”
The solar performance thus far has also been impressive already, according to Steve Russell, owner of Roost Solar, the solar installer on this project.
“This 90-module, high-efficiency array is anticipated to produce more than 30,000 kWh per year and cover 100% of the property’s annual electricity usage. The system has been operational for a little over five months now, and to date, the system has outperformed our expectations,” he said in January 2021.
In British Columbia the public utility offers full credit for any excess energy produced through a net-metering program for grid-tied systems. That means that, essentially, solar customers can “store” excess solar energy for use at night or during the winter when solar generation is reduced, Russell says.
Project Credits
Location: Vernon, BC
Completion: May 2020
Size: 3,500 square feet
Timber Frame Engineering & Design: European Timberframe Corp.
Owner: Bruce Goode
Plans: Meyer Designs
General Contractor: Woodstyle Homes
Roofing Contractor: Artisan Roofing
Solar Installer: Roost Solar
Solar Attachment Manufacturer: S-5!
