Eco Factor: Solar-generating roofs coated with reflective tiles to reduce solar gain.
Recently news surfaced that painting the world white would help curb global warming as white homes and buildings would reduce solar gain, hence require lesser energy to keep the interiors cool. U.S.-based roofing and solar company, Petersen-Dean, is taking the concept a little further by enabling roofs to not just reduce solar gain but also generate solar electricity for the homeowner.
The company has launched a revolutionary new concept called the SmarterRoof, which incorporates a specially-designed, light color tile and an Energy Star rated coating that reflects sunlight and keeps the building temperatures cooler. Along with these tiles, the company uses special solar panels that capture sunlight and transform it into clean and renewable electricity.
The company claims that during the day a typical roof heats up to more than 170 degrees, which accounts for over a 30 degree rise in temperature on the inside. This accounts for more air conditioning and hence more energy. Apart from energy generation and energy savings, the SmarterRoof system is stated to be more robust than conventional roofs that can’t stand the erratic change in temperature for long.
