Solar windows, shingles get their moment in the sun

[jpak]

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/green/solar-windows-shingles-get-their-moment-in-the-sun/20153

For me, one of the biggest potential breakthroughs in solar technologies will come in how it is integrated into buildings. That is because even though I am sure many people are interested in the potential of solar energy for their own home, it isn’t just the cost that is holding them back, it is the prospect of putting some big array on their roof that will ruin the design aesthetics.

So, I read with interest this week about two developments in the market for building integrated solar technologies.

The first comes in the form of an installation of solar windows at the headquarters of Organic Valley in La Farge, Wisc.

The facade above includes 20 solar windows from Pythagoras Solar, featuring technology that generates energy and improves energy efficiency simultaneously. During the day, the Organic Valley workers who occupy these offices can rely more heavily on natural light. The windows are grid-connected, delivering some solar-generated energy, specifically focused on the environment they are serving. The windows also save energy by keeping the temperature more consistent.

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