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Posts Tagged ‘solar’
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Let the competition begin!
The race for the largest solar roof in the U.S. is on!
In 2008, the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, unveiled the nation’s largest solar roof—a a 2.36-megawatt system that produces approximately 26% of the center’s power.
But there’s about to be a new solar mayor in town: UK pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline recently announced it plans to build a massive 3.1-megawatt system atop its York, Pennsylvania distribution center. At over 350,000 square feet (about seven football fields) it will be the largest solar roof in the U.S, and produce all of the power for the large facility.
The project will cost an impressive $14 million, but GlaxoSmithKline will receive $4.1 million in federal tax credits, not to mention eliminate its $400,000 annual utility bill.
And the solar fun doesn’t stop there: the pharmaceutical giant plans to start another three-megawatt system at its U.S. headquarters in Pittsburgh next year. The projects work towards GlaxoSmithKline’s goal of reducing its electricity usage 45% by 2015.
We don’t know about you, but the folks here at Cole Roofing could barely be more excited. As eco-conscious roofers, this is just the sort of healthy green competition we like to see. (It’s the green roofing version of football season!) Projects like this make headlines, which get people thinking about solar power and solar roofs. Let the competition begin!
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Solar Power on Cloudy Days
Now that we’ve given you the basics on solar integrated roofs, you might be wondering if a solar roof works on cloudy days.
The answer? A resounding yes.
Ever get a sunburn on a cloudy day? That’s because, while not shining brightly, the sun is still hard at work behind the clouds. Even on overcast days, the solar panels in your solar integrated roof system will still capture and store the sun’s energy for future use. Believe it or not, solar panels can even produce energy with snow on top of them.
Take Germany, for example. Clouds blanket the sky about two-thirds of all daylight hours in the European country. It rains year round. But Germany is the world leader in solar energy, producing over half of the globe’s solar power. Amazing, right?
You can figure out how much solar energy your home or business can generate with solar maps such as this one. If you live in a green-colored area (less than 4 kilowatt hours per square meter per day, or kWh/m2/day), don’t fret. Just think of Germany!
Solar power is within all of our reach. The sun is an endless, renewable, clean source of energy. Better yet? It’s absolutely free!
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How Do Solar Roofs Work?
Fun solar fact you probably didn’t know:
The sun beams enough energy down to Earth every hour to provide the entire human race with enough electricity for a year.
One hour. An entire year. Crazy, right? So how can you get in on the action? A solar roof!
Solar roofs—also called a solar integrated roof system—provide both a return on your investment and clean, eco-friendly energy. It’s a sustainable choice that really puts your roof to work.
When you picture solar roofs, and solar power in general, you probably think of the huge, clunky panels of yesteryear. Today’s solar panels are so sleek and modern, they can be seamlessly incorporated into your roof through a solar integrated roof system.
Here’s how they work:
We’re all familiar with the warmth of the sun. That’s because sunlight, like all light, contains energy. When light hits most materials—our skin, for instance—it turns into heat. However, when sunlight hits certain materials—such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide and cadmium telluride—the sunlight-generated energy doesn’t turn into heat, it turns into an electrical current. This electrical current can be harnessed to power our homes, offices, factories and more.
Until recently, solar panels containing these power-generating materials were large and cost-prohibitive for most homeowners and businesses. Technological advances have made these panels thin and affordable. Now is the perfect time to capture some of that clean energy to both lower your electricity bills and save our environment.
After all, the sun is an endless supply of clean, green energy. Even better? It’s free! So start getting in on it!
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Think a green roof is out of reach? Think again.
Green is in. And for good reason. Our planet, its resources and wildlife are all in jeopardy. Americans have finally taken notice and are doing something about it.
Here at Cole Roofing we believe the push to “go green” isn’t just a trend. It’s here to stay. And we’re committed to providing our customers with sustainable roofing solutions that help our environment one roof at a time.
Non-profit organizations are the backbone of our country, committed to worthy causes, its employees working long hours, often doing without the latest and greatest technologies so funding can be directed towards the greater good.
We think it’s time to honor area non-profits, so we’re giving one local non-profit a green roof—either a vegetated or solar integrated roof, both on the cutting-edge of sustainable roofing.
Beyond honoring area non-profits, a mission of our green roof giveaway is to educate the public on today’s different green roofing solutions. Many people are unaware of the environmentally friendly roofing options available today. Average consumers may be confused or have misconceptions about vegetated, solar roofs and more. We’d like to dispel myths and misinformation and give you the facts on green roofs. After all, an educated consumer is a powerful consumer.
Expect more entries from us in upcoming days! Here’s your chance to nominate your favorite non-profit for something truly valuable. We can’t wait until the entries start rolling in!
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