We are moving.  That’s right, SBS-Solar will have a new home by the end of November 2011!

While we are super sad to be leaving our cool office cooperative on S. 4th W. (ho. hum.), we are very excited for our new office at 401 S. Orange St., Suite C on the corner of S. 2nd W. and S. Orange streets.  In reality, it is only about 4-blocks from our current spot.  (We are in the old Missoulian Angler building.)

The new office will give us parking, great drive-by visibility along Orange Street, easy access to Downtown and Midtown, a large entry/display area, separate offices for each of us and a great conference room with a deck. (can you say 4pm deck meetings in summer….)

A small remodel begins THIS WEEK and we plan to be in there and open by the end of November.  In our new space we will have standard retail office hours: Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm and Fridays from 10am-2pm or by appointment.

Check out the changes as you drive by and come for a visit soon.

The advent of heavily reduced rates in solar, the increased interest in solar locally and solar subsidies from utility grants and tax credits means we are putting more time and energy in Solar PV than ever.  As well, we have an additional owner/investor with a heavy interest in Solar.

NEW LOGO: SBS is now SBS-Solar

With this in mind, SBS is changing it’s name to SBS-Solar.  We’re keeping the “SBS’ part (sustainable building systems) and adding the”Solar” for a better representation of what we actually do.  SBS-Solar will have a heavier emphasis on Solar and continue its energy efficiency work in the form of home and business energy audits, third-party verification, consulting, and retrofitting.

In addition to the name change, SBS-Solar  is proud to unveil our new website.

Same URL: www.SBSLink.com.  Totally New Look.

You should find a cleaner feel, more information, and better organization.  We still feature our solar calculator, project examples and staff information. Highlights include an ever expanding solar and efficiency glossary, explanation of our staff certifications and memberships, and a greatly expanded services section including ground source heat pumps.  Expect to see a more robust project area with photo shows and videos, and an expanded glossary in the coming months.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

SBS has had a wonderful and successful time on the side-order list for the City of Missoula’s Green Blocks energy saving program.

We began work back in the Fall of 2010 by getting 2-inters from the University of Montana’s COT Energy Program and got them fully trained on doing a basic solar site assessment.

Our Team ended up doing over 120 assessments over the course of 3-months last fall.  They braved blazing sun, side-ways rain and blowing snow from October – December.  But, it was well worth it.

This spring 2011 marked the final phase of this project.  The City added about 60-90 participants to get to their total count of 300.  We got ourselves another COT Energy intern for this past Spring and he went out and did about 48 more solar site assessments.

Half way through this phase we saw an 18% REDUCTION in the cost to install solar, plus the state and feds decided to KEEP the tax credits in place for renewable, Northwestern Energy gave us a dozen more $6k grants to hand out to customers in good standing, and the MT DEQ revolving loan fund keeps on chugging along (although they are 8-10 weeks out on funding).  To top it off, SBS starting taking credit cards for deposits.

The wet cold spring made for a slow start, and with the unseasonably cool summer, folks were not thinking about solar.  But with the aforementioned incentives, and a little 90 degree weather, we are in full swing.  Over half of the installs we’re doing in July and August came from Green Blocks leads and SBS is now booked out until September.

Thanks to the City of Missoula for this great opportunity!  We’d love to do it again.

If you’re interested in information about solar – get in touch: www.SBSlink.com or info@sbslink.com.

According to the Bitterroot Star, last week the the fifth home by Ravalli County Habitat for Humanity was completed and keys handed over to the owners. The new home is on Cherry Street in Hamilton and now belongs to Travis Sanderson and his family.

Much of the materials for the home were donating, including a Solar PV system – made possible through the work of Sustainable Building Systems (SBS) and Northwestern Energy’s Solar PV grant.  This system will reduce the family’s prior heating bill of $350/month in winter to around $80/month.

Read the entire coverage from the Bitterroot Star here.

SBS is proud to sponsor the Selway-Bitterroot-Frank Church Froundation fundraiser next week in Missoula.  They are bringing the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival next Thursday, April 7, 2011.  We love this Foundation, as they are the primary stewards and protectors of this largest wilderness in the lower-48 states.  Please join us on April 7th for this great event.

Here’s some quick points:

• Telluride Mountainfilm Festival – Showcasing the very best films from the 2010 festival.
• Presented by the Selway-Bitterroot Foundation
• April 7th at the Roxy Theatre, south Higgins – in Missoula
• Doors open at 6pm,. films start at 7pm
• Beer from Blacksmith Brewery
• Crazy amount of raffle prizes including; whitewater rafting trips, guided fly fishing trips, patagonia and cloudveil prizes, backpacks, cooking stoves and much more
• Sponsored by Sustainable Building Systems, The Independent, Montana Headwall, Grizzly Hackle, Kent Bros. First Security Bank, NRS, REI, Missoula Federal Credit Union and Kuhl Clothing.
• All proceeds benefit wilderness stewardship and trails maintenance in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
• Tickets are $12, students are $10

We hope to see you there!

SBS Team