Go Green | Roofing Guy

Drexel Metals PV Solar Roof Systems

Mar 302010

This video features Drexel Metal’s metal roofing systems that feature applied PV Films, building integrated PV, under roof thermal systems, and many other photos from some of Drexel’s work sites.

These roofs can withstand up to 150mph winds and punishing hail.

Generally, PV Roof systems can be installed as quickly and as easily as a standard metal roof, often times overtop of an existing room. This can lower the cost for homeowners by helping them avoid the cost of removing the original roofing material.

Will My Electric Company Pay For My Solar Power?

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Dec 292009

Can you really make money by selling power back to the utility company? Federal law allows independent power producers to connect to the utility grid and requires utilities to purchase excess electricity.

Generally these utility companies issue credits to homeowners who manage to turn their meter backwards, paying full retail price. Once per year any unused accumulated credits are paid out in the form of a check based on the wholesale or avoided cost for energy. This price is typically 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt.

Net metering refers to your overall usage from the utility company minus the amount of power you have generated. Nearly all standard utility meters can measure both the flow of energy in and out of a home’s system. If you’re considering the installation of a PV solar array you should contact your utility company and ask them to explain their policy on net metering and compensation for surplus power you may generate.

Color Changing Roof Tiles Could Save Billions

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Dec 032009

A team of MIT graduates called Thermeleon have invented a color changing roof tile that reacts to ambient heat temperatures.

The tiles turn white when it’s hot, black when it’s cold. This allows your roof to absorb heat in the winter and reflect heat in the summer.

This simple invention could save billions in energy costs annually.

color-change-slate1

The white tiles reflect an estimated 80% of the suns rays, while the black tiles reflect around 30%.

The tiles use a commercial polymer combined with a water solution. When the temperature falls below a certain level the polymer stays dissolved and the black back of the tile is fully exposed. A simple and effective way to get and entire roof to flip between the most efficient colors.

Durability testing is now underway. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a version of thse come to market in the next 5 to 7 years.

Owens Corning Helps Your Roofer Go Green

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Nov 042009

Owen Corning, the largest manufacturer of roofing materials, said today it will be the first major roofing manufacturer to connect contractors with local recycling centers to environmentally dispose of shingles that thrown away after replacement.

Apparently there weren’t many facilities that could handle asphalt shingles, so Owens partnered up with Heritage Environmental Services to provide such drop off locations. The shingles are then turned into roads.