Cheshire Academy embraces solar panels and drift solar snow fences

Cheshire Academy's solar panel and snow fence success story.

Cheshire Academy is closing in on its first successful year of using solar-powered panels to help reduce energy costs at the private school in Cheshire, Connecticut. Funded entirely by New York solar energy developer Plankton Energy in 2023, four campus buildings boast the productive solar panels. And, to slow down the release of melting snows and ice from those panels, Drift Solar Snow Fences from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc. were added to help keep students and faculty safe.

The solar energy system is expected to generate approximately 272 kWh of solar power annually. Over the lifetime of the system, Cheshire Academy will save more than $297,000 on electricity expenses and avoid more than 1,248 metric tons of C0-2 emissions, which is the equivalent of burning 140,000 gallons of gasoline.

“The electricity from the solar panels is fed into the buildings that the solar panels are installed on and is consumed onsite,” says Solar Project Manager Aidan Kates with Plankton Energy. “The timing for installation was ideal because new asphalt shingles had just been installed on the science building’s roof and the school’s student sustainability club wanted to bring solar to their campus.”

Specifying drift solar snow fences

According to Kates, it’s important to have a snow retention system when dealing with solar panels on a roof. “Solar panels cover the textured roof that would typically break up chunks of snow and prevent collection of sheets of snow,” says Kates. “Because solar panels are smooth, snow accumulates into sheets on top of them.

“Those sheets of snow compact onto the solar panels. This threatens to slide off the panels all at once, which can be very dangerous. The Drift Solar Snow Fences we specified helps keep the snow from sliding off the roof.”

Designed specifically for snow retention below solar panel installations on shingle roofs, the 12” tall, 4-pipe aluminum Drift Solar snow retention system ensures snow doesn’t avalanche off the roof. The snow fence serves as a “catch basin,” allowing the snow to melt off the roof.

Suitable for both new roof and retrofit roof applications, the brackets must be bolted to the roof support structure. Centurion Solar Energy installed the snow fencing this summer so that there is a minimum of 12” between the bottom of the solar panel and the snow fence tubes. The bracket can be flush at the eave with the tubing side facing down-slope (reversed installation compared to other snow fence installations).

“We really liked the aesthetic of the Drift Solar Snow Fence,” says Kates. “Plus, we needed a product that would be effective in stopping ice/sleet runoff as this roof is in a high traffic area of the school campus. The snow fence also allowed us to space the rail away from the edge of our solar array to avoid any shading on our panels.”

Snow fences create safer campus

Now in place for almost a year, the solar panels are located on four campus buildings: The John J. White ’38 Science & Technology Center, Gideon Welles Dining Commons, Woodbury Hall and the facilities building. Nick Liebler, Director of Facilities at Cheshire Academy, relates that the Drift Solar Snow Fences have made a major difference.

“Before the snow fences were installed it was a nightmare,” says Liebler. “The snows melting off the solar panels would simply avalanche off the roof, causing a dangerous situation. The Drift Solar Snow Fences are doing their job and have made a significant difference.”

According to Liebler, the solar panels warm up quickly after snow falls, so that the snow quickly slides down the roof areas. The snow is “captured” by the snow fences. Only when there are extremely large snow falls and the snow exceeds the height of the snow fences are there challenges. “Even then, the situation is still so much better than it was before the snow fences were installed,” says Liebler. “There’s a night and day change now that we have the Drift Solar Snow Fences in place.”

Founded in 1974, Cheshire Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12 and postgraduate. The historic 104-acre campus is located just two hours from Boston and New York, and is home to approximately 343 students.

Plankton Energy is a turnkey solar energy provider dedicated to servicing schools, houses of worship, small and medium enterprises and community solar needs across the United States. Plankton supports schools and community institutions like Cheshire Academy to save considerably on their electricity bills and pioneer energy choices that align with their sustainability values.

About Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc.

Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc. manufactures snow guards and fence-style snow retention systems designed to protect people and property. The company provides free shipping of products to the 48 contiguous United States and offers free layouts and quotes for product placement. For details visit www.rockymountainsnowguards.com or call 1-877-414-7606.