When choosing a roof and solar system the homeowner wanted a worry-free and maintenance free product and after some serious debating, finally decided that a Solar Thin Film Metal Roof was the best and only option. Some of the main concerns regarding the roof project were the close proximity to the ocean and salt water as well as the risk of high winds.

Here are some of the main criteria used to choose an Integrated Solar and Metal Roof over a Traditional Shingle and Solar array :

• Most solar panels have a life expectancy of 25 years but the average shingle roof is replaced every 20 years with even short life expentancy in shore regions
• Metal roofs and in this case Galvalume have a 40-50 year life expectancy which is 2 to 2.5 times that of shingle roofs
• The new jersey shore line can be subject to high winds and no other system offered better wind ratings than metal and solar film
• Glass solar panels tend to draw in more of the moisture and salt water air requiring constant cleaning and monitoring
• Solar thin film and metal roofing looks 10x better and adds more value to any shore home where house value is at a premium (see pictures)
• Solar thin film roofs are considered Building Integrated Photo Voltaics (BIPV) and allow for a 30% tax rebate on the entire system including areas where the metal roof is covered by the solar panels! The metal roof becomes part of the whole system!!

After some permit issues, color selection and waiting on NJ State approval, the homeowner now has the home of their dreams with a metal and solar roof that is set to pay them back in full in as little as 5 years!!

Call 888-234-2929 for your free metal and solar consultation!

What we didn’t fully address last time was the severity of the down-the-road consequences that this spill is generating. Now on it’s 51st day we are starting to see serious political reactions, economic implications and wildlife deaths everyday. Because this world is one big ecosystem and in many ways so is our economy (all inter-connected) let’s look at the quality of life consequences we are soon to face and what we NEED to plan to do about it.

•    According to the US government 600,000 to 1.2 million gallons a day of oil are leaking into our ocean
•    Marine scientists have already found a 100-foot-thick layer of oil 1,300 feet below the surface about 45 miles from the well site with more discoveries each day
•    The National Wildlife Federation reports that already more than 150 threatened or endangered sea turtles are dead as well as 316 sea birds with more dying everyday
•    The oil is already in the Loop Current a significant hazard to the Florida Keys, (and entire East Coast) as well as areas of the west coast of Florida, Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

In addition, more immediate and grave threats include:
•    The risk of even more ferocious hurricanes with oil skimming off the surface and onto our mainland because crude accumulating at the surface could be raising the temperature of the surrounding water
•    The risk of disease and widespread illness as the oil passes through the food chain and reaches us due to the bioaccumulation of chemicals and toxins

NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!!!! What can be done to save our planet and our economy??? One of the answers is Solar Thin Film and Metal Roofing

Although, this is not the complete answer it represents a better way of thinking based on:
•    Renewable and clean energy
•    Low lifecycle costs
•    Sustainable material usage
•    Long-term economic value

I don’t think any of these concepts are radical but they all make sense. And here’s how:

Renewable and Clean Energy

The Sun blasts Earth with enough energy in one hour-4.3 x 1020 joules – to provide all of humanity’s energy needs for a whole year! Solar thin film is made to harness that electricity, and convert it to usable energy that gets hooked up to your energy meter and sent back into the electrical grid. On average, homeowner’s offset anywhere from 30-60% of their home electrical usage for the entire year.

This fairly new solar thin film energy system has already offset 14.2 barrels of oil in its lifetime! That’s over close to 600 gallons for just one house in less than 1 year!! Extrapolated, that’s over 15,000 in it’s lifetime.

Low Life-cycle Costs

As mentioned before, metal roofing is the least expensive roof over the lifetime of the metal roof. That includes maintenance, replacement costs and energy savings. That is just one of the reason’s solar thin film loves metal roofing. The other reason is that you get a tax credit (30% with no limit) for the metal solar roof when you laminate the solar film onto the panels. These two products combined give you 50+ years of roofing and 25 years of solar output at a high level.

In addition, the efficiency and low cost to product of solar thin film will eventually combine to eliminate crystal panels all together. At that time you will just have to re-laminate new solar panels over top the metal roof when the 25 years is up.

Sustainable Materials

Solar thin film is made in America and is much less expensive to mass produce than traditional silicon photovoltaics. Thin film solar cells use a fine layer of semi-conducting material, such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide or cadimium telluride to harvest the electricity form the sun at a fraction of the cost.

Long-term economic (and ecological) value

As mentioned metal roofing is already a more sustainable, longer lasting and a more value-adding product over time than any other roof, especially asphalt shingle. But, what about the solar aspect?

Solar installations on metal roofs have become more and more popular because of the quick payback period (3-8 years) and the long term ROI (20-30%).

Another reason for the recent increase of metal and solar installations is the ever increasing price of OIL and FUEL. When estimating solar ROI it is impossible to predict the future oil prices but with recent events such as the BP oil spill, government regulation will increase, causing supply to decrease and energy prices to increase.

At Green is Global, it’s our hope that almost every home in America can afford solar and metal roofing. Think about your Flat Screen TV, with all the benefits at the current prices, isn’t it hard to live without one? The same goes for solar including same-as-cash financing up to $45,000!

Call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or email adam@greenisglobal.net to tell us how you feel about our solar thin film, metal roofs and the world (global) views addressed in this article.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing: Metal roofs around Philadelphia are made of 20-30% recycled material and are, at the end of their life-cycle, fully recyclable. Compare this to the 13 billion pounds of shingle that end up in the landfills every year. You can also save up to 30% a year on your home cooling costs by installing a new reflective metal roof.

Integrated Solar Thin Film: Combined with a standing seam metal roof, solar thin film is extremely eco-friendly and a sound investment. You can drastically cut energy costs with a properly installed metal and solar system. In addition, they are eligible for NJ SRECs (new jersey solar renewable energy credits) that companies will buy on the open market if they can’t meet clean power guidelines. Average ROI is 6-8 years with typically a 20% return on investment over 20 years!

James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding: James Hardie fiber cement siding in PA and NJ uses only raw materials within 500 miles of manufacturing facilities, reducing transportation. In addition, the low toxicity of raw materials such as wood pulp, cement, sand, water (recycled up to 4 times), is good for the earth and your home. New ColorPlus technology ensures true color and beauty throughout your home’s siding.

Infinity Fiberglass Windows by Marvin: Fiberglass Replacement Windows Philadelphia are far more energy efficient than their wood or vinyl counterparts. They exceed all performance requirements for energy reduction in Energy Star ratings. Infinity is also Energy Star rated in all U.S. climates, something that most competitors cannot claim.

Challenger Series Triple Pane Vinyl Replacement Windows: Philadelphia and New Jersey best vinyl replacement window on the market. The Challenger far and away outperforms the competition in energy efficiency due to its triple pane construction with double krypton gas chambers. This gives the Challenger a .19 U-Factor which is well below the Energy Star minimum of a .30 U-Factor! Tax credit eligible!!

For all of you that missed our educational seminar, here are some pictures of the event and some helpful links to checkout for yourself.

• American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org
• Home Power Magazine www.homepower.com
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council www.irec.org
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory www.nrel.gov
• Solar Energy Industries Association www.seia.org
• State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency www.dsireusa.org
• Sandia National Laboratories www.sandia.gov
• Florida Solar Energy Center www.fsec.ucf.edu
• Renewable Energy Access www.renewableenergyaccess.com

For FREE ESTIMATE on Solar Metal Roofing also known as Integrated Solar Thin Film, Visit Global Home Improvement’s Solar Thin Film Estimate Page.

In addition, what better way to start off our new website with a job already in progress in DE for solar thin film metal roofing!! This job is an ideal candidate for solar thin film with a south facing front that is aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the cost of the metal roof was significantly decreased because the solar thin film technology allows for a 30% tax rebate on the metal roof not just the solar roof.

Ever wanted to know the Return on Investment for Solar Panels in PA and NJ?

What about the technology of Solar Thin Film and Metal Roofing?

And last but not least, what products can I install on my home that will maximize my home’s value and last longer than 10-20 years??

Once again (Part III), Global Home Improvement is providing all the answers with a FREE Seminar April 15th at 5:30 PM at the Washington Crossing Inn in PA. Learn all about the latest in “green” home improvements as well as solar laminates, standing seam metal roofs and fiber cement siding. Also, stay for some 1-on-1 Q&A time with the experts as well as a delicious meal!!

Here is what one of our lastest attendees had to say:

Thin film solar technology allows homeowners to use the sun’s rays to generate power, for fractions of the cost.

Photovoltaic thin film has many unique qualities.  For one, they are better than traditional silicon panels at producing electricity in low light. Unisolar’s thin film solar panels have even been known to elicit traces of electricity even off the light from just the moon!!!  In another test, the thin film solar panels even generated power when covered in snow!!!   While the electricity generated in these cases was minimal, these tests show you will be generating power on those cloudy days!!!

Another great advantage to installing thin film solar technology and metal roofing is the unlimited 30% tax credit on both the solar and the metal roof! The savings on renewable energy systems are better than ever, so make sure you act now and get your share of the tax credits in PA and NJ.

To have a solar expert from Global Home Improvement give you an estimate on solar thin film call 888-234-2929.

Ever wanted to know your ROI for a solar metal roof? How about the benefits of metal vs. shingle? Find out why homeowners in PA and NJ are going with solar thin film and metal and why this could be a perfect fit for your home!

Date and Time:

Thursday, April  15th – 5:30 – 7:30pm with Information on Metal Roofing, Solar Thin Film, and James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding

Stay until 8:00pm for a complimentary Dinner Reception and a Metal Roofing and Solar Q&A Session

Location:
Washington Crossing Inn

1295 Gen Washington Mem Blvd

Washington Crossing, PA 18977-1309

Enjoy an informative and entertaining night out at the enchanting Washington Crossing Inn. Exclusive Savings on metal roofing and hardie siding direct from the Manufacturer Reps. Register online or call 888-234-2929 for tickets.

The Solar Equation

For more information on net metering, AC to DC conversions, solar thin film ROI in years and dollars, as well as per watt output and amount of energy being offest, call the team at Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit their solar thin film webpage.