CONFIDENTAL; This communication, along with any documents, files or attachments, contains privileged and confidential information. It is meant only for parties authorized by Prospect Solar and 
Prospect Waterproofing. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that dissemination, distribution or copying of any information in or attached to this communication is strictly 
prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the original communication and its attachments without reading, printing or saving in any manner.
 District of Columbia has installed over 2 
million square feet of green roofing. 
 1st among US cities when compared to 
available roof space. 
 Additional 2 million square by 2018. 
 Grants and other funding available for 
green roof installations.
 30% Federal ITC, SREC market, and new 
legislation regarding property tax and 
community solar, make DC an excellent 
solar market. 
 Sustainable DC plan includes 20% of 
renewable energy by 2023, 2.5% coming 
from solar. 
 Potential for 19% of electricity generated 
from rooftop solar PV systems in DC. 
 Competition for roof space between green 
roofing and solar.
 Green roof is integrated with solar. 
 Solar racking system is integral with the 
drainage/retention layer of the green roofing. 
Solar installed over green roofing Solar Garden Roof
Solar over green roofing 
 Uses penetrating racking system which is more expensive 
(about $0.35/Watt). 
 Reduced life span of roof system compared to ballasted 
racking system. 
 Solar panels receive minimal benefit from the micro-climate 
the plants create at the roof level.
Solar Garden Roof 
 Soil ballasts the water retention/racking system without 
penetrations. 
 Hot rubberized asphalt roof membrane is utilized with life 
span 2-3 times that of conventional roofing. 
 Creates a cooler surrounding micro-climate. Modules 
operate up to 10% more efficiently.
1. Remove insulation and inspect/repair and install HDPE root barrier. 
2. Reinstall insulation. 
3. Install moisture retention mat and air layer. 
4. Install water retention and PV racking modules. 
5. Install system filter fabric. 
6. Install soil and gravel drainage. 
7. Install plants.
 Meet the goals of the Renewable Portfolio Standard. 
 Increase low-income resident ownership of solar. 
 Majority of low-income residents in DC are not in 
living situations where they can own solar at their 
premises. 
 Storm water retention requirements creates 
competition for rooftop space.
 Renewable portfolio standard and Solar Renewable 
Energy Credits (SRECs) market. 
 Stormwater Retention Credit Trading Program (SRCs) 
through DDOE. 
 Community Renewable Energy Act (CREA). 
 Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE).
 Solar Garden Roof systems installed on… 
Multi-family dwellings 
Non-profit organizations 
Universities and institutions 
Office buildings 
Government buildings
SRECs 
SRCs 
PACE 
Third party ownership and Power Purchase 
Agreements (PPAs)
…to provide solar ownership for low-income 
residents through the Community Renewable 
Energy Act or Community Solar.
 Roof area 
 Solar capacity 
 Energy production 
 Unit cost for green roof components ($/SF) 
 Unit cost for solar ($/watt) 
 Value of SRECs generated 
 Value of SRCs generated 
 Grants available 
 Financing costs 
 Date of installation – SREC pricing will vary
 Roof condition and existing warranty 
 Structural capacity of existing roof deck 
 Wind uplift 
 Shading and orientation for solar array(s) 
 Potential future use of roof area 
 Storm water retention capacity created 
 Financing capacity created
 Roof area – 10,000 SF 
 Solar capacity – 51,740 watts 
 Energy production – 63,438 kWh/year 
 Unit cost for green roof components - $20.00/SF 
 Unit cost for solar ($/watt) - $2.80/watt 
 Grants available - $0 
 Interest rate – 5% 
 Amount to finance - $344,872 
 Date of installation – 1/01/15 
 SRC value - $2.27 per SRC (1 SRC/SF/Year estimated to 
be generated) 
 Owner is for-profit commercial property
 Net cash flow after 25 years does not take into account 
energy production after year 25. 
 $2.27 price per SRC is very speculative as the market is 
new. 
 Analysis provided is for a for-profit commercial 
property owner. 
 Additional savings if racking system and soil are 
included in the cost basis to determine federal tax 
credit. 
 DDOE/AWS Green Roof Rebate program considerations.
 Solar Garden Roofs should be considered on new 
development projects in DC. 
 Should be considered on re-roofing projects as well. 
 Installation of a Solar Garden Roof after completion of 
the green roofing greatly increases cost. 
 These retrofits can be cost prohibitive. 
 These systems, funded through SRECs, SRCs, and 
PACE, provide an excellent method to bring 
community solar to low-income residents in the 
District of Columbia. 
Thank you!

Jon Hillis | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar Symposium

  • 1.
    CONFIDENTAL; This communication,along with any documents, files or attachments, contains privileged and confidential information. It is meant only for parties authorized by Prospect Solar and Prospect Waterproofing. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that dissemination, distribution or copying of any information in or attached to this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the original communication and its attachments without reading, printing or saving in any manner.
  • 2.
     District ofColumbia has installed over 2 million square feet of green roofing.  1st among US cities when compared to available roof space.  Additional 2 million square by 2018.  Grants and other funding available for green roof installations.
  • 3.
     30% FederalITC, SREC market, and new legislation regarding property tax and community solar, make DC an excellent solar market.  Sustainable DC plan includes 20% of renewable energy by 2023, 2.5% coming from solar.  Potential for 19% of electricity generated from rooftop solar PV systems in DC.  Competition for roof space between green roofing and solar.
  • 4.
     Green roofis integrated with solar.  Solar racking system is integral with the drainage/retention layer of the green roofing. Solar installed over green roofing Solar Garden Roof
  • 5.
    Solar over greenroofing  Uses penetrating racking system which is more expensive (about $0.35/Watt).  Reduced life span of roof system compared to ballasted racking system.  Solar panels receive minimal benefit from the micro-climate the plants create at the roof level.
  • 6.
    Solar Garden Roof  Soil ballasts the water retention/racking system without penetrations.  Hot rubberized asphalt roof membrane is utilized with life span 2-3 times that of conventional roofing.  Creates a cooler surrounding micro-climate. Modules operate up to 10% more efficiently.
  • 7.
    1. Remove insulationand inspect/repair and install HDPE root barrier. 2. Reinstall insulation. 3. Install moisture retention mat and air layer. 4. Install water retention and PV racking modules. 5. Install system filter fabric. 6. Install soil and gravel drainage. 7. Install plants.
  • 8.
     Meet thegoals of the Renewable Portfolio Standard.  Increase low-income resident ownership of solar.  Majority of low-income residents in DC are not in living situations where they can own solar at their premises.  Storm water retention requirements creates competition for rooftop space.
  • 9.
     Renewable portfoliostandard and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) market.  Stormwater Retention Credit Trading Program (SRCs) through DDOE.  Community Renewable Energy Act (CREA).  Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE).
  • 10.
     Solar GardenRoof systems installed on… Multi-family dwellings Non-profit organizations Universities and institutions Office buildings Government buildings
  • 11.
    SRECs SRCs PACE Third party ownership and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
  • 12.
    …to provide solarownership for low-income residents through the Community Renewable Energy Act or Community Solar.
  • 13.
     Roof area  Solar capacity  Energy production  Unit cost for green roof components ($/SF)  Unit cost for solar ($/watt)  Value of SRECs generated  Value of SRCs generated  Grants available  Financing costs  Date of installation – SREC pricing will vary
  • 14.
     Roof conditionand existing warranty  Structural capacity of existing roof deck  Wind uplift  Shading and orientation for solar array(s)  Potential future use of roof area  Storm water retention capacity created  Financing capacity created
  • 17.
     Roof area– 10,000 SF  Solar capacity – 51,740 watts  Energy production – 63,438 kWh/year  Unit cost for green roof components - $20.00/SF  Unit cost for solar ($/watt) - $2.80/watt  Grants available - $0  Interest rate – 5%  Amount to finance - $344,872  Date of installation – 1/01/15  SRC value - $2.27 per SRC (1 SRC/SF/Year estimated to be generated)  Owner is for-profit commercial property
  • 19.
     Net cashflow after 25 years does not take into account energy production after year 25.  $2.27 price per SRC is very speculative as the market is new.  Analysis provided is for a for-profit commercial property owner.  Additional savings if racking system and soil are included in the cost basis to determine federal tax credit.  DDOE/AWS Green Roof Rebate program considerations.
  • 20.
     Solar GardenRoofs should be considered on new development projects in DC.  Should be considered on re-roofing projects as well.  Installation of a Solar Garden Roof after completion of the green roofing greatly increases cost.  These retrofits can be cost prohibitive.  These systems, funded through SRECs, SRCs, and PACE, provide an excellent method to bring community solar to low-income residents in the District of Columbia. Thank you!