Solar panels and cool roofs are a natural integration of sustainable technologies that can increase the output of a photovoltaic system by as much as 10 percent. Whether you are a developer of commercial/industrial properties or a multifamily builder thinking about installing a solar power system to reduce energy costs, you should seriously consider a cool roof as part of the installation package.
One solar installation company that has embraced the merger is Advanced Powering Services Inc., of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., which has installed a cool roof/solar panel beta test site on the roof of a local industrial building. According to the beta test, a cool roof reduced the ambient temperature of the roof covering by 10 degrees, and in so doing increased the generating performance of the PV panels by 11.5 percent to 13.2 percent. The system is projected to save the building owner $1,235 annually in energy costs.