Visit our Online Store

Just Roof

See the light

by Jemma Pearson

Going green is becoming easier, with new technologies in solar cell construction bringing a new dimension to homes.

Rising electricity bills and a growing awareness of the toll we all take on the planet are forcing home owners to turn to greener sources of energy. And in our sunbaked part of the world, nothing could be easier that using solar energy.

Flat solar panels have been popping up on roofs in this country and around the world for many years. Mounted on the roof, the panels work by capturing energy from the sun, which is converted to electricity for use in the home. These panels are efficient - they don't require direct sunlight and can still produce electricity on cloudy days, though obviously, the brighter the day the better. The solar panel is a reliable technology that has been used effectively for decades, but it is a technology that is still evolving, and an exciting point in the evolution of solar panels is the BIPV solar system.

A solar panel is an interconnected collection of solar cells, which are also know as photovoltaic cells. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are photovoltaic materials that are used instead of conventional building materials in structural parts of the building, such as the roof or facade.

While the conventional solar panel is nothing new to Australians, many home owners will not b aware of BIPV technology. The advantages of this technology make it an exciting advancement in a solar market that is demanding better solutions to our rising need to find renewable resources for electricity supply to homes and businesses. While more expensive than conventional building materials, BIPV products are becoming more affordable. If building a new home, it is not that much expensive to use BIPV modules instead of conventional materials. BIPV can be used in the roof - either flat or pitched - but they also come in the form of a thin film. Modules that are shaped like roof tiles or shingles are also available. On the facade, BIPV modules can also be installed on new or existing buildings.

While the push towards cleaner, greener and cheaper sources of electricity has spiked the interest in solar technology, BIPV products also have other advantages for the home. While generating electricity, BIPV products can also provide shading and thermal installation and structural stability to the building.

Distributed locally by Solar Xpress, Just Roof is a BIPV system, which is designed to form the entire roof, replacing the need for other roof coverage. The Suntech product can be used on residential or commercial sloping roofs and can be installed during construction on new buildings or can be retrofitted to existing homes. The design blends seamlessly into the roof and can be fitted around skylights and balconies. While Just Roof is suitable only for a pitched roof, the pitch angle can be as low as five degrees.

With an increasing awareness of the planet's precious but diminishing resources and the desire to reduce our carbon footprints, it won't be long before there is a solar panel in some form on every building on the Sunshine Coast sports. BIPV products are an exciting addition to the home owner's arsenal of products to make the buildings we live in greener.

Source: My Property Review - August 27, 2010 (pages 106-107)