In the "This Old House" TV spinoff, "Idea House: Mountain Modern," co-host Jared Phifer finds himself impressed as GAF Energy representatives show how easy it is to install the company's new Timberline Solar roof product.
"As a contractor, we're always looking at what's the latest and greatest out there, I think this is going to take over the U.S. and I see this in a lot of future builds," he said.
"Idea House: Mountain Modern" follows Phifer and his wife, Amber, as they design and build homes in the Rockies. In episode 8 of the series, Phifer, owner of Revolve Design Build in Denver, Colo., heads to a jobsite where GAF Energy's Timberline solar product is being installed. Unlike traditional solar panels, the product uses lightweight solar shingles that are installed like a nailable shingle and blend into a roof. As GAF Energy representatives explain in the episode, it's a "gateway solar product" to get more roofing contractors involved with solar.
Phifer speaks to the hesitancy of those in the skilled trades to learn new systems, encouraging them to find the fun in exploring new products and ways of completing jobs easier.
"Yeah, there's a learning curve, and I get that, and that costs money, but there's something better here," he said.
The Timberline Solar Energy Shingle has received multiple awards and honors since its launch earlier this year, including the Best of Innovation award from CES, RC's 2022 Editor's Choice, Green Builder's Sustainable Home Award, Fast Company's World Changing Ideas and Innovation by Design awards, the NAHB Best of IBS Awards Most Innovative Construction Tool, and others.
Watch the episode here.