June 2017
FEATURES
Dear EarthTalk: Why do rooftop
solar panels have to be so big and
unsightly? Are there any better-
looking alternatives out there?
–Maise Lipscomb,
Helena, Montana
If aesthetics is the reason you’ve
been holding off on converting
your home to solar power, 2017 just
might be the year for you to take the
renewables leap.
For starters, several panel makers
now sell “frameless” or “seamless”
designs whereby photovoltaic
panels appear to “float” on the
ro o f s u r f a c e , w i t h s i g h t l i n e s
unencumbered by big black metal
framework apparatus.
But getting rid of the frames
hardly constitutes an aesthetic
revolution.
For that, we turn to electric-car
pioneer Tesla, which made a big
splash recently with the launch of
its new Solar Roof system, which
uses attractive, integrated solar tiles
made out of tempered quartz glass
to replace conventional roof tiles
and shingles.
The Solar Roof tiles can withstand
upwards of three times the storm
force of other traditional roof tiles—
and as such come with a warranty
lasting the lifetime of the home or
infinity, whichever comes first.
While the Solar Roof system still
costs about a third m ore than a
traditional photovoltaic rooftop
set-up, its visual appeal could
make the transition much more
palatable to many potential rooftop
solar wannabes.
Photovoltaic installer SolarCity
(co-founded by Elon Musk and
then acquired by Tesla in late
2016) will roll out the new system,
available for outright purchase
or through a lease, in California
beginning in June and plans to
expand to other parts of the United
States soon thereafter.
But Tesla’s new Solar Roof isn’t
the only option when it comes
to more attractive rooftop solar
installations.
Italian start-up Dyaqua, inspired
to bring the historic retrofit industry
into the 21st century, has ramped
up manufacturing on its so-called
“Invisible Solar” photovoltaic roof
tiles that are indistinguishable from
traditional terra cotta, wood or
stone roofing.
This replacement roofing looks
opaque but is translucent to the
sun’s rays so light can enter and
stoke the silicon solar cells inside.
Meanwhile, Boston-based
Sistine Solar is developing a “solar
skin” product that matches the
underlying rooftop.
These newfangled Massachusetts
Institute of Technology-designed
panels reflect back an image of the
roof below while still letting light
through to the photovoltaic cells
within.
Sistine’s “camouflaged” solar
panels cost about 10 percent more
than typical photovoltaics, but the
start-up is banking on homeowner
willingness to spend a little more
so unsightly roof panels don’t
stick out like sore thumbs in the
neighborhood.
For that matter, the rooftop isn’t
the only option any more.
Maryland-based Solar Window
Te c h n o l o g i e s i s d e v e l o p i n g
invisible window coatings that
house ultra-small solar cells
designed to convert light from
both the sun and artificial sources
into electricity.
And California-based Sunflare
is pioneering a new generation of
“thin-film” photovoltaics that are
only a few micrometers thick and
can be affixed to just about any
surface with some double-sided
tape.
Given that we could power
all of humanity’s electrical and
industrial activities for a year with
the amount of sunlight that hits
the Earth’s surface in just an hour,
The Southwest Portland Post • 7
A Boston-based start-up is developing “solar skin” photovoltaic panels that match
the underlying rooftop. Even though these panels cost slightly more than traditional
photovoltaics, some homeowners would gladly pay an aesthetics premium so their
houses don't stick out like sore thumbs in the neighborhood.
(Photo courtesy of Sistine Solar)
it’s a shame that solar power still
accounts for less than one percent
of global energy production.
But with the costs of solar panels
coming down, maybe improving
their look is just what we need to
kickstart the transition away from
fossil fuel home power.
Contacts: Tesla Solar Roof, www.
tesla.com/solarroof; Dyaqua, www.
dyaqua.it; Sistine Solar, www.
sistinesolar.com; Solar Window
Technologies, www.solarwindow.
com; Sunflare, www.sunflare.com.
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy
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MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK
(Continued from Page 3)
According to Claire Coleman-
Evans, Bridlemile land use chair,
this bill was devised by and is
supported by the Oregon Home
Builders Association and 1000
Friends of Oregon.
“Under the guise of promoting
‘affordable housing’,” Coleman-
Evans wrote, “HB 2007 calls for
f a s t e r p e r m i t t i n g t u r n a ro u n d
times, prohibiting discretionary
design review for any housing
project, affordable or not, and
calls for ADUs (accessory
dwelling units) and duplexes in
all residential zones without any
requirement that these buildings
be affordable.”
Association leaders urged
concerned citizens to contact their
state legislators regarding this bill.
Hillsdale Customer
Appreciation
Blueberry Pancake
Breakfast and Book Sale
Be sure to advertise in the annual
Hillsdale special section
in the July edition of The Post.
Deadline for space reservations is
June 19, artwork is due June 23.
Mention this offer and save 20
percent off the open rate on any
display ad 1/8 page or larger.
Contact Don at 503-244-6933 or
www.SWPortlandPost.com
to place your ad.
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