Greener Roofing Options

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Joe Schwartz, CEO of Home Power magazine, says one drawback to solar shingles can be the myriad connections and roof penetrations that the shingles necessitate. And the dark color and high absorbance of solar shingles can actually add to a home’s thermal load. (This can be remedied by insulating the home from the shingles, such as with a radiant barrier.)

United Solar offers a simpler and less costly option with its PV laminates that are bonded directly onto metal roofing. The photovoltaic sections are larger with fewer connections and roof-penetrating drill holes. These panels range in size from 4½ (31 watts) to 18 (136 watts) feet, with wiring either in the ridge cap or the eave soffit. On average, about 180 square feet of roof area with good solar access generates 1 kilowatt of electricity. Go to www.uni-solar.com for more information.

The biggest hurdle for installing PV-shingle or tile systems is their high initial cost. Uni-Solar Model SHR-17 solar roofing shingles, for instance, cost about $135 for every 7-by-1-foot section, not including installation, power inverter, batteries, mounting, fuses and wiring. You’re not only buying a roof, however, you’re also buying energy-producing solar panels.

Additionally, a growing number of states now offer tax and rebate incentives of up to 50 percent of a system’s total cost to help ease the cost of investing in this renewable energy technology. (To find out if you are eligible for any incentive or rebate programs in your area, search the Database of State Energy Incentives at www.dsireusa.org.) Factor this in with the reduced or even nonexistent electricity bills you’ll encounter each year, plus the satisfaction of producing pollution-free electricity, and solar roofing becomes a far more viable roofing option.

Roofing Resources

For a comprehensive listing of all green roofing materials and company information, we highly recommend Green Building Products, published by BuildingGreen (www.buildinggreen.com).

WOOD SHINGLES
Search for Forest Stewardship Council- and SmartWood- certified products at www.smartwood.org and www.fsc.org.

CLAY TILE AND SLATE
Gladding McBean has more than 125 years of experience making clay roof tile and terra cotta. (800) 776-1133; www.gladdingmcbean.com

To find a clay-tile or slate roofing contractor or sources of new and used clay tile or slate in your area, visit the Directory of Slate Roof Contractors at www.jenkins slate.com.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print