Building Showcase: Solar Canopy by New Energy Works

New Energy Works
www.newenergyworks.com

New Energy Works designed and installed this timber frame solar canopy for a client in Washington. The end goal of the project was to make a structure that provided renewable energy for the homeowners’ needs. New Energy Works designed and cut the timber for the solar canopy in their McMinnville, Oregon, mill. The canopy was the perfect remedy for the client’s energy needs and was able to be installed over their troublesome sloping yard. It not only provides the homeowners with energy, but doubles as a relaxing covered sitting area for family gatherings.

Additionally, the open timber frame structure was outfitted with bi-facial solar panels, so even on days of cloud cover and inclement weather the panels retain the ability to draw energy from light reflected back up from the ground, even when covered with snow.

The custom post bases are New Energy Works’ standard steel moment base with 2” diameter schedule 8 pipe embedded from the bottom of the post 2’-3’. The posts are locked in place using a timber lock and the hole is plugged with a decorative peg.