Listen Up: An Architect's Perspective on Rooftop Solar

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feature-0-1414598890080.jpg Architects are in the driver's seat when it comes to building new homes or overseeing major remodeling projects. Although they are familiar with rooftop solar, their designs generally do not include solar panels. Whether it's because of cost, technology or aesthetics, it's a big opportunity that is lost to almost all new homeowners.

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  • solarix
    solarix Solar Expert Posts: 713 ✭✭
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    Re: Listen Up: An Architect's Perspective on Rooftop Solar

    While they did talk a little about the issue of plumbers clogging up a roof with vents, they did not get to the architectural issue of how that profession needs to get with the program and start designing all buildings to be solar friendly - whether or not solar is going to be installed right away. The current style of chopping residential roofs up into itty-bitty little sections is a killer for putting on a solar array. If architects would use their wonderful creative skills, I'm sure they could design (at virtually no additional cost) all homes to have a solar ready space on the roof, because sooner or later we are going to put solar there.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
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    Re: Listen Up: An Architect's Perspective on Rooftop Solar

    But then you also have to take solar obstructions (allowable shading by neighbors) and other shading issues (local power distribution/poles, growth of trees/landscaping which many cities encourage) leave home owners in a limbo that can be very ugly and/or expensive to address.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
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    Re: Listen Up: An Architect's Perspective on Rooftop Solar

    A hearty "hurrah!" to solarix's comments.

    Man how I hate those idiotic piecemeal roofs! They add to the structure cost, increase the likelihood of leaks and failures, and really don't look good. Have they ever even heard of "proportions"?

    Nothing like a big, properly sloped, South-facing roof surface to make for a practical, solar-friendly building. :D
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