Solar energy has a lot of benefits but if you’re looking for an additional reason to go solar, a lesser-known side effect exists. Solar panels don’t only generate energy and reduce your power bills, they also act like insulators, keeping your house or commercial building cooler in summer and holding in the heat in winter. Researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering studied the insulation capabilities of rooftop panels. Headed by environmental engineering professor Jan Kleissl, the team used thermal imaging to study the temperature of the building’s ceiling.
They found that the ceiling under the panels was up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than under the exposed parts of the roof.
Tilted panels are found to be more effective as they allow wind to circulate between the panel and the roof, cooling down and blowing away the heated air.
Data also show that at night, when the temperatures drop, solar arrays help keep the heat in.
This proves that solar panels can reduce the amount of energy needed to cool or heat a building. The researchers calculated that the amount saved on cooling the building was equivalent to 5% of the solar installation price, over its lifetime (in 2011).
The more the panels are efficient in converting sunlight to electricity, the bigger the cooling effect is. In the case of the building studied, the solar installation reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by 38 per cent.
Of course, more efficient ways exist to insulate buildings, but this should be considered as a bonus for installing a solar power system.
Although this study was released in 2011, the results remain interesting and it is definitely something to take in consideration when making the switch to solar.
Read the release here.
Learn more about all the benefits of solar energy here.
Do you want to reduce your electricity cost? Contact Energis on 1300782 217 or via email at sales@energis.com.au.
