Case Studies
Reading these case studies have helped us discover how investing in solar is exciting, worthwhile, and incredibly powerful. We encourage you to learn more about these installations, look them up on Google maps, and take tour of the facility.
Kentucky Solar Energy Installations Map
The Department of Renewable Energy of the Kentucky Division of Energy Development and Energy Independence (DEDI) has created a virtual tour of primarily commercial solar installations in the state.
The Story Map is not inclusive of all projects statewide but highlights the diversity of projects found in the Commonwealth. The map is compatible with Internet Explorer 10 and alternate browsers such as Chrome, FireFox, and Safari. More...
Sheppard Square Hope VI Revitalization Solar
The revitalized Sheppard Square development in the Smoketown neighborhood of Louisville is a model mixed-income development that incorporates solar along with other green features and shows how renewable energy is quickly becoming affordable and available to everybody.
A 50kw solar system will be installed, that will use 270w Suniva panels and a central inverter. SES will start the installation in October 2015 and be complete by year end. According to Steve Ricketts, Partner with SES, seven apartment buildings, having eight units each, will have solar. More...
Louisville Metro Solar Lighting included in Energy Savings Performance Contracts
From the city zoo to the city hall, Louisville is improving the quality of life for all residents and making good on its promise to decrease the city’s per capita energy use 25 percent by 2025.
Louisville Metro Government has installed solar lighting at city parks, bus stops, crosswalks and city parking lots. Click on the image at the left to see a video of these projects by Inovus lighting and view the technical paper Here...
Louisville Metro Government hashas also signed two energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), one in 2010 and another in 2013. More...
Butchertown Market
Butchertown Market features largest solar panel array in Louisville, having 318 panels on its roof to harness energy from the sun. “I think we have the largest solar array of any company in Louisville,” said Andy Blieden, a Louisville developer and owner of Butchertown Market. “That is something we are proud of.”
Blieden started adding solar panels on the roof of the building at 1201 Story Ave. in December. He had 113 installed at the time. "It's either you talk about it or you do it," Blieden said of his decision to buy the solar panels. "I think it's important to be an example of doing what's right." More...
Copper & Kings
"We can all make a difference, and the highest state of consciousness is the state of doing. We all need to do something. And the little things add up to big things, to making a positive environmental impact."
"We are working hard at being environmentally responsible – we use solar energy to supplement our energy supply, we planted a Monarch butterfly garden to serve as a Monarch migratory way station, and we use repurposed shipping containers for retail and event space. We have just started, these are early days and we believe that we can and will do more, but it’s always better to walk than talk." More...
University of Louisville
UofL has installed on a campus a total (as of May 2015) of: 268 photovoltaic panels (54.4 kW) and 35 solar thermal collectors (120.16 square meters).
In spring 2014, UofL installed a 16-panel, 165 MMBtu solar pool heating system on the roof of the Wright Natatorium.
UofL's latest project featuring renewable energy opened in October 2013. The new Student Recreation Center on 4th Street features not only a 134 MMBtu solar hot water system, but 128,000 square feet of space heated and cooled by the University's first geothermal system. More...
Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center
The Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center. Pool water there has been heated by solar heated tubing on the roof for several years, installed through a public-private partnership. Metro Government is making annual payments to Johnson Controls from the energy savings projects like and other projects such as replaced inefficient chillers, boilers and updated old electrical systems in Louisville Metro facilities.
The solar-powered water heater at the aquatic center heats the pool eight months of the year, supplemented by electricity in the coldest months. Energy from the sun is collected on the pool’s roof. More...