On October 3, 1979, the Loveland Reporter-Herald published “A place in the sun,” an article about the “futuristic” solar home that Jim and Beth Crowder are building at 7333 Leslie Drive just west of town. Designed by the Crowders themselves, it featured passive and active systems that harnessed the power of the sun to generate an estimated 70% of the home’s total heating.
At the time the house was described as ‘experimental’, although ‘ahead of its time’ would have been just as apt. In the 44 years since its construction, concerns about climate change and advances in technology have led to the proliferation of rooftop solar panels and design principles that maximize energy efficiency and sustainability.
As a tribute to the Crowder’s innovative spirit, the house’s current owners, Barry Floyd and Diane McInturff, are now taking its sustainability to a new level. Last week, a team from Loveland’s Family Roofing replaced the home’s original wood clapboards with a state-of-the-art Timberline solar roof system, the first of its kind in Larimer County.
Barry Floyd is speaking on Tuesday about an old newspaper article detailing that the home he owns was a “futuristic” solar home originally built by Jim and Beth Crowder on a hilltop west of town in the late 1970s. Floyd and his partner Diane McInturff had a solar roof system installed this week, continuing their story of sustainability. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)
“If you need a new roof and you want solar power, that’s a great deal,” said Brian Barnes, owner of Family Roofing, of the new system, which will be manufactured by GAF Energy. “They’re starting to assert themselves.”
According to Barnes, the Timberline system was introduced in 2022 and is the first to integrate solar shingles into traditional roofing materials. A Timberline shingle is made of waterproof thermoplastic with a small photovoltaic cell on top. It lies flat on the roof and is installed in the same manner as traditional asphalt shingles.
“It’s basically a very small solar panel that can be nailed down with a rubber pad,” Barnes explained.
The shingles and cells are connected by electrical wires covered with a narrow plastic sheath. The wiring is then connected to the home’s electrical system.
The result is a flat solar system that is seamlessly integrated into the roof covering. Unlike traditional solar panels, it doesn’t require racks bolted to the frame of the house, which often results in roof leaks, Barnes said.
“Leaks are a big deal,” he continued. “When a roof leaks, 99% of the time it’s caused by something penetrating the roof.”
GAF provides a custom design for each installation, Barnes said, and also provides special training for him and his crew. In addition, the manufacturer takes over the approval process for the unique product, for which applications have to be submitted for both the roofing and the solar system.
However, the approval process can be lengthy, Barnes acknowledged, since the product is not yet widespread. He also acknowledged that Timberline shingles only have a “Class 3” impact rating and could be susceptible to damage in a severe hailstorm.
A bird’s-eye view of the completed solar roof system at 7333 Leslie Drive west of Loveland. (Submitted drone photo)
The Timberline systems can also be more expensive than a traditional rooftop installation, but Barnes anticipates prices will come down as the product becomes more popular.
“We need to find alternative sources of energy,” he said. “New homes in California are currently required to have solar panels, and this is how it will be done. This will be a product that is much more financially sound than building a new roof and then installing solar panels.”
Once up and running, Floyd and McInturff’s new solar roof is expected to produce around 8,500 kilowatt hours per year, an output guaranteed by GAF. Not only does this help reduce monthly utility bills, but the company also reimburses the two the difference if the system stops working.
But high utility bills weren’t a problem for the 5,000-square-foot home on Leslie Drive, McInturff said, because the passive solar features are still working as designed. The house sits fully exposed to the sun on a ridge and has large south facing windows and surrounding natural stone which traps heat and keeps it warm even in the coldest winter temperatures.
“This house is so efficient,” she said. “Even at minus 10 degrees, the living room is like a sauna.”
Still, the couple is honored to continue the sustainable tradition started by the Crowders and hope the new solar roof will pave a similar path to the original Place in the Sun.
A team from Family Roofing works Tuesday to install a solar roof on Barry Floyd’s home west of Loveland. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)
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https://www.reporterherald.com/2023/07/15/a-place-in-the-sun-pioneers-new-solar-roofing-system-in-loveland/
