Since taking office in January of 2007, Governor Bill Ritter has made a few upgrades to the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. The 100-year-old building at 8th Avenue and Logan Street in Denver, now has two solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, improved insulation in the attic and compact fluorescent lights (CFL).

Last summer, two solar PV systems were installed, one on the Carriage House, the other on the Pump House. The Carriage House has a 7.4-kilowatt system that was installed by Namaste Solar Electric of Boulder. The 2.4-kilowatt system at the Pump House was installed by Bella Energy (formerly Sun Electric Systems) of Louisville. Together, the 9.8-kilowatt solar array produces 11,200 kilowatt-hours per year. The average Colorado home consumes 7,200 kWh each year. The solar array will produce the same amount of electricity in one year, as an average Colorado house and a studio apartment consume combined.

The Governor’s Residence also has new insulation in the attic. The insulation has an R-Value of 50. The higher an insulation’s R-Value, the higher its resistance to heat flow. R50 insulation is highly effective in preventing heat loss in colder months and heat gain in hotter months. The home has also been fitted with energy efficient CFLs.

More “green” updates are planned in the future. Governor Ritter hopes to install a geo-exchange system later this year. It will use groundwater to help regulate the home’s temperature.

For more information about the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, or to take a tour, visit the Governor's Residence Web site .