Roof Leaking? Now is the time for commercial solar. Here’s Why…

Every year, when the first rains hit Southern California, businesses begin to evaluate their roof needs. Now is a great time to also consider their need to lower electricity bills for 2021. The savings created by commercial solar pays for new roofs that most California buildings need.

Highlights:

• Commercial solar pays for a new roof
• Fluid applied roofs are a perfect match for solar racking systems
• For maximum return on investment, commercial solar should be installed during any new roof project

Find out how much you could save today.

How do you make a fluid-applied roof (aka Cool Roof) more energy efficient than it already is? Pair it with other sustainable technologies like solar panels. Cool Roofs and Solar Panels complement each other, increasing a new commercial roofs’ energy efficiency.

With help from Title 24, over the past decade, Cool Roofs have grown into the standard for California commercial roofs. Reflecting the harsh desert sun drastically lowers ambient rooftop heating common in more traditional roofs. Lower cooling and heating costs result, but is it enough for California businesses?

Sustainable Energy Contractors believe a multi-layered approach is the “new normal” for California commercial buildings. “A Cool Roof is an effective sustainable technology, but it shouldn’t stop there. Reflected sunlight is wasted electricity,” explains Ken Fournier of Revel Energy. “Business owners come to us asking how they can counter rising energy costs. After an in-depth energy audit, we offer a custom-tailored, multi-layered solution.” For example, pairing a new Cool Roof with commercial solar panels, LED lighting, and an energy storage system.

Advantages of Pairing Cool Roofs and Solar Panels:

The money you save on electricity pays for your new roof.

Typical electricity bill savings can range from 50-80% of your bill. These dollars can go straight to the bottom line or be used to pay for a financed new roof project.

Bundling a Cool Roof and Solar Panels adds savings on the initial investment. Roofing is an essential factor in reducing energy costs. If a roof needs a replacement or retrofit, this should be addressed before adding commercial solar panels. Revel Energy recommends their customers consider bundling their roof needs with commercial solar.

Sealed off, leak-free bond.

Spraying the fluid applied acrylic thoroughly seals any holes or openings between the racking and roof structure.

The highly pliable, elastic qualities perfectly seal off any weak spots or vulnerable areas caused by fastening. Durable acrylics blend the solar panel racks with the roof structure. Ideally, after installing the panels, roofers should spray every anchor and base of the racks creating a counter flashing with the Cool Roof material. This makes both systems one cohesive unit. Image of Commercial Roofer applying Cool Roof provided by Western Colloid.

Cool Roof is applied under solar panels. Photo courtesy of Western Colloid.

Lower rooftop temperature.

Alone, Cool Roofs lower the ambient temperature which causes excessive heat gain inside the building. Commercial solar panels add another layer of protection absorbing the brunt of the sun rays protecting the actual roof surface. Shaded areas between the panels and roof are cooler than a direct sunlit roof surface. This significantly reduces the overall heat transferred from rooftop to interior.

Electricity rates and demand charges are expected to continue outpacing inflation. Some markets will see even faster growth than others (on average 6% annually for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E). This is a challenge Southern California businesses need to address. At one time, owners and operators were able to alleviate rising costs with one sustainable technology. Nowadays, there is a strong need for multi-layered sustainable solutions.

Revel is an energy contractor on a mission. Dedicated to renewable energy solutions since 2009, Revel Energy was formed to provide Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural businesses with alternative energy beyond solar. Revel stands out from the competition by paying attention to what makes good business sense to each client, implementing a wider range of technologies to free up capital and make businesses sustainable and more profitable.