Integrated Solar Metal Roofs – Two Birds in One Shot!
For consumers who are consciously making efforts to buy products that are environment-friendly, metal buildings have proven to be one of the best choices.
Primarily made of steel, the most recycled construction material in the planet; metal buildings are strong and durable enough to last a lifetime, and with minimal maintenance at that. Due to their prefabricated nature, there is less energy needed in their assembly and minimal wastes are generated during their construction. These and many other environmental benefits make metal buildings green.
Another green choice is metal roofing and solar power. Metal roofs have high levels of recycled content, completely recyclable and last for a long time. Metal buildings are energy efficient and incorporating renewable energy sources such as solar panels further boosts this benefit.
Is there a way to enjoy the benefits of a metal roof and a solar system at the same time? Fortunately, there is – through integrated solar metal roofing systems!
Integrated solar metal roofing simply means that the solar collecting elements are combined into the roof. Thin film solar laminates are fused to the clean surface of the metal panels prior to installation.
These are the many benefits of integrated solar roof systems:
- Lightweight
- No need for large, heavy and fragile PV panels
- No need for additional structural support
- No roof penetrations that may eventually damage the roof and cause water penetration
- Some solar laminates are virtually invisible
Solar laminates are flexible and durable, which match the ability of metal roofs to expand and contract during thermal changes. They are so durable that they can be walked on when doing maintenance on the roof.
How does it work?
The contacts on each and every solar laminate are wired together and this wiring is connected to the inverter, which converts the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power. In turn, this AC power feeds the electricity into the power network.
Many homeowners are turned off by the appearance of traditional large and heavy photovoltaic panels on asphalt shingles, not to mention that solar panels will definitely outlast asphalt shingles. When that happens, re-roofing is not the only solution, but the solar panels need to be removed and re-installed as well. On the other hand, since metal roofs are highly durable, they are sure to outlast most solar systems in the market today.
With solar metal roofs, we get the best of both worlds – the benefits of a metal roof plus a renewable source of energy for metal buildings.
