Solar Panels Cool Buildings
July 21st, 2011 by 
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have discovered an added benefit to solar panels: In summer, they cool the buildings on which they are installed.
Using thermal imaging, the scientists found that solar photovoltaic panels act like giant sun shades and that building ceilings under the panels were 5 degrees F cooler than top-floor ceilings of buildings with exposed roofs.
Reporting in the journal Solar Energy, the researchers also found that tilting the solar panels allowed for the efficient passage of air underneath, further cooling the buildings.
In winter, the solar panels prevent some sunlight from warming buildings, but at night the panels trap heat and warm buildings, essentially offsetting any reduction of solar heating during the day.
Solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by 38 percent, the study said.
Overall, the study said that the energy savings from the cooling effect of solar panels amounted to getting a 5 percent discount on the price of the panels.
Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.
photo: janie.hernandez55.
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Tags:  energy savings solar energy solar heating solar panels sun shades Thermal imaging | [ Permalink ] |
Very cool!! No need for the utility company to be involved in this higher efficiency installation. No mention of the transmission losses are mentioned, but they are an added benefit. All the energy goes from the roof to the consumer.
Efficiency losses, utility profit, overhead and advertising expenses are eliminated. The free energy form the sun will be paid for in a short time and the consumer can now put $500-$600 back into the economy every month (in lieu of an electric bill).
Can’t wait for this to catch on as the American economy will quickly grow, providing jobs, tax base, local spending boosts and a significant growth in consumer confidence.