Longbranch Condominiums in Breckenridge unveiled its solar thermal supplemental hot water system Wednesday. The Longbranch project began in 2006, when the homeowner's association was eyeing a building renovation. The solar thermal system provides about 75 percent of the building's 60-unit residential hot water. Excess hot water supplements the pool, sauna and hot tub. Three companies partnered to create the 28-panel Longbranch system — Mech Tech, RE-Align and Sunshine Solar — at a cost of $104,000. The Longbranch system has a five-year payback period. The homeowners association took a line of credit, which will be paid back with money already set aside to pay utility bills. The system has a 20-year life expectancy that should see a total of $400,000 savings in that time.“They'll save enough money on gas each month to pay the loan,” building manager Kim Beres said. Energy savings are estimated at about $20,000 per year. Beres added that, aside from the zero out-of-pocket costs residents face, a $500 tax credit per homeowner and a Governor's Energy Audit rebate of $15,000 will also come their way.
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20110722/NEWS/110729958/1078&ParentProfile=1055
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