Skip to main content
S-5!® The Right Way!®

Tools

Powering a Net-Zero Home With Solar on a Metal Roof

How a 60 kW rooftop solar system used a zero-penetration, rail-less solution with PVKIT® to meet Boulder’s strict energy efficiency requirements.

Case Studies / Calcaire House
LOCATION Boulder, Colorado
INDUSTRY Residential
CUSTOMER Calcaire House
PRODUCT CERTIFICATIONS ICC-ES | IAPMO / UES (Solar & Snow) | UL 2703 | ULc | UL 3741 | FPA HVHZ (FL47050) | LA County | City of Los Angeles | Sunnova AVL | Sunnova AVL – High Wind

The Challenge

The City of Boulder has strict energy codes in place and requires all new construction to meet a certain level of efficiency. The goal is to have a net-zero home, not taking energy from the grid, and the only way for a larger home to achieve this is with solar.

The most optimal rooftops for solar were also the most visually prominent, and the homeowner was concerned about aesthetics. These concerns were alleviated after seeing a small-scale mock-up of the PVKIT® 2.0 solution combined with an all-black solar module.

Project Stats

The Calcaire House is a 15,000-square-foot modern Colorado single-family residential compound consisting of five interconnected buildings. Floor-to-ceiling glass connects the interior space to the exterior landscape, offering spectacular views of the Boulder Flatirons.

The Solar Revolution was charged with installing more than 60 kilowatts of solar dispersed over multiple rooftops. Boulder Roofing also installed an S-5! snow-guard system incorporating the S-5! ColorGard®, S-5-S™ Mini clamp, SnoClip™ II and VersaClip™.

50 kW

of PV mounted using PVKIT

600

linear feet of ColorGard

525

S-5-S Mini Clamps

Calcaire House

The Solution

The Solar Revolution installers utilized the PVKIT to build the solar array. The installation team started at ground level prepping PVKIT MidGrabs and EdgeGrabs. Another team member prepared the solar modules by installing the power optimizers and managing the various wires. By completing this work on the ground, the roof crew could focus on setting modules, and it minimized their time in harnesses on a steep metal roof. The solar installers prefer to install modules starting with the bottom row and working up. Extra care is taken when aligning the first row. This precision allows for subsequent rows to drop into place on the PVKIT MidGrabs.

50 %

Savings in shipping costs

50 %

Faster installation time

Net-Zero

Compliant

Calcaire House - Image 1
Calcaire House - Image 2

“The Solar Revolution has been utilizing the PVKIT solution since it first hit the market. Hands down, it is the best solar mounting solution for metal roofing of any description. Our projects using the PVKIT yield the fastest installation times, lowest material cost and best aesthetics bar none. We’ve taken a close look at all the competitors’ knockoffs, and they do not compare in quality or even in cost. S-5! has been creating innovative solutions for metal roofs far longer than anyone else, and their expertise is unmatched. We just won’t use anything else on a metal roof.”

Doug Claxton

| The Solar Revolution, Boulder, CO

Download Full Case Study

Download PDF

See How PVKIT Transforms Projects

The Calcaire House by S-5! and The Solar Revolution
▶

The Calcaire House by S-5! and The Solar Revolution

WATCH VIDEO
How To Install Solar Panels On Metal Roofs Fast with PVKIT
▶

How To Install Solar Panels On Metal Roofs Fast with PVKIT

WATCH VIDEO
Save money on solar with rail-less mounting
▶

Save money on solar with rail-less mounting

WATCH VIDEO
×

Find the Case Studies that Match Your Project

Rail-Less Solar
Rail-Based Solar
Wind
Utility
Snow
Project Dashboard & Product Downloads

Configurator

Calculator Website

Recent Snow Projects

Recent Solar Projects

Product Downloads

Product Disclaimer