Architects, designers and homeowners continue to seek energy-saving building materials for renovations and new home construction. Homeowners are extremely interested in promoting environmental and economic sustainability in the greater community, and they’re searching for products that will provide long-term solutions for the increasing cost of energy bills.
The EPA reports that $40 billion is spent annually in the United States to cool buildings - this accounts for one-sixth of all electricity generated in a year. Ninety percent of the energy produced in the United States is generated by burning fossil fuels, which creates pollution.
The metal roofing industry’s products are already environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Homeowners have long been able to partially power their homes with sunlight, but it meant mounting big photovoltaic panels on the roof. The roofing materials, which use various types of solar-to-electricity conversion, have been on the market for a number of years.
A photovoltaic cell, also called a PV or solar cell, is a device that converts sunlight directly into electrical energy. The conversion occurs without moving parts, is silent and pollution free.
The solar electricity, fed through electronic equipment, is converted to utility grade electricity for use directly in the home. If the PV electricity exceeds the home’s requirements, the excess electricity can be sent back to the utility company, typically resulting in a credit for the homeowner.
The latest generation of photovoltaic panels look and act like ordinary roofing tiles or shingles.
Photo courtesy of Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Systems