Not Every Roof is Suitable for Solar

For anyone who is keeping up on the fast changing developments in residential solar energy there are plenty of topics to discuss as of late.  Utility companies in several states have successfully challenged their regulators requirement that allows solar customers to sell their unused solar generated power back to the utility at retail rates in order to help finance the cost to install solar panels.  And Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has acquired one of the largest residential solar energy companies, Solar City, and is promising to move the industry along to the next generation of residential solar.  In this fast moving environment, Feazel does not pretend to know exactly how roof top residential solar energy will continue to develop.  However, what we do know is that solar energy roofs are currently not suitable for all homeowners. 

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory approximately 83% of small buildings are in locations with a suitable climate for solar installations but only 26% of those buildings are actually suitable for solar development. The roof may have an angle or shape that isn't suitable for solar or maybe there's tree cover, but lots of homes just don't make sense with solar.  In total, only about 21.6% of homes in the U.S. are appropriate for solar. 

As the industry moves toward so-called “next-gen” technologies there are important questions to be answered before homeowners invest in solar roofs.  One of the directions of the next generation is to have the roof itself be the solar product as opposed to solar panels.  But if this occurs, then the following issues will have to be resolved before it can be feasible to many homeowners.  First, how can roof products which contain a solar cell be reinforced so the roof can be walked on for repairs or snow removal?  Second, can the corners of the roof be sealed properly?  And, finally, the most important question: can the solar roof material adapt to the irregular shapes, angles and pitches of different roofs?

Feazel is a trusted residential home services company in Ohio and have built our reputation by offering superior roofing, windows, siding, gutters, chimneys, masonry, skylights, insulation and more.  Our core values of service, integrity, quality, continued improvement, employee appreciation, community support, and environmental conservation are on display with every job we do.  Call or visit us online to learn more. 

Source: http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/09/26/elon-musks-solar-roof-plans-are-a-big-gamble-no-ma.aspx#.V-rHAUWnc8Y.facebook