The interest in renewable energy sources has never been greater. Solar energy is especially popular, thanks in part to energy efficiency tax incentives, grants and rebates available to building owners.

The interest in renewable energy sources has never been greater. Solar energy is especially popular, thanks in part to energy efficiency tax incentives, grants and rebates available to building owners.

Metal roofing and wall systems are an excellent platform for solar energy technologies, so METALCON is showcasing the benefits of this combination in Solar Bay, a bright new section of this year’s exhibition in Tampa.

Solar Bay will feature full scale set-ups of a variety of solar technologies that can be integrated with metal into the building envelope. Education sessions will be presented in Solar Bay by solar and metal roofing experts each day of METALCON. Topics include: Rooftop-Mounted Solar Power systems; Solar Heat Recovery systems on Roof and Walls; Solar-Thermal Water Heating technologies; and Federal, State and Local Solar Energy Funding Incentives.

Several of METALCON’s 33 education sessions also deal with the growing solar market and related topics. For more conference program details visit www.metalcon.com. Free admission to the exhibit hall and early bird pricing on seminars - 4 sessions for the price of 3 - is available for those who register by Sept. 22. Many METALCON exhibitors are involved in solar technologies that will be exhibited in Solar Bay. After an in-depth explanation of these systems visitors can visit and talk with the many metal roof and metal wall manufacturers exhibiting at METALCON that are selling into this growing and exciting market. If your company has products that fit these criteria, contact Paula Parker at 800-537-7765 to get in on the excitement at METALCON’s Solar Bay.

The environment will also be addressed by METALCON’s keynote speaker Bob Berkebile, FAIA, a founding principal of Kansas City, Mo.-based BNIM Architects. He is a leading authority on sustainable design and will offer encouraging thoughts on today’s economic and environmental situations in his keynote presentation titledCreating A New Sustainable Economy, which is slated for 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, opening day of this major event.

The19th annual METALCON International Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for Oct. 6-8 at the Tampa Convention Center. It is sponsored by the Glenview, Illinois-based Metal Construction Association and is the only international event focused entirely on the use of metal in construction.