Freedom Solar completes unique dual purpose solar array for Guido Construction

Freedom Solar Power recently designed and installed a one-of-a-kind project for Guido & Companies Inc. that uses solar panels to spell out the word “GUIDO” on the building’s rooftop and doubles as creative aerial advertising.

Guido Construction Company and Guido Building Materials Company are located at 8526 Vidor Avenue, right next to the San Antonio International Airport, so people flying into or out of the airport get a prime view of the company’s large solar panel “billboard.”

The 85-kilowatt project is comprised of 260 SunPower modules, will meet than 60 percent of Guido’s energy needs, and will pay for itself in less than 4.6 years.

Kyle Frazier, director of sales for Freedom Solar, says: “Just like our team, the folks at Guido Construction bring an artistic vision to all of their projects. We were beyond thrilled when they came to us with this idea and asked if we could turn it into a reality.”

There were significant space issues that made installation very technical, according to Freedom Solar’s lead designer Josh Meade.

The roof’s tilt changes on the left and right sides of the building, which required two separate arrays on the main part of the rooftop project where the word “GUIDO” appears. Freedom Solar also had to install a third array on the other side of the building to increase the number of panels and reach the desired kilowatt-energy production.

“For Freedom Solar, no two projects are alike. Each system is specifically designed to meet the customer’s needs and budget, to take into account any limitations of the building’s structure and in this case, to take into account the aesthetic appeal and desired visual outcome,” says Frazier.

“Being at the forefront of technology and innovation is a hallmark of the way we do business,” says Tom Guido, president of Guido Construction Company.

The project features 327-watt high-efficiency solar panels SunPower, which are the most efficient available today and unmatched in reliability with an expected useful life of more than 40 years. Freedom Solar is a SunPower Master Dealer, the only company with that distinction in Texas.

To date, Freedom Solar has completed thousands of residential and commercial installations in Texas for clients including Whole Foods, Tejas Rodeo, and CubeSmart, among others.

For more information, please visit http://guidoconstruction.com/ or http://www.freedomsolarpower.com/.