PV Demonstration Project

Project Title: Roof membrane temperature monitoring of thin-film PV arrays

Scope: Design, furnish and install instrumentation to monitor and record operating temperature fluctuations under various roof membranes. Establish benchmark temperatures currently unknown in the roofing industry at this time.

Program Length/Location: Estimated 3 years/Manhattan, Kansas

Program Benefits: Provide useful information to MRCA contractors as to operating temperature extremes that may be harmful to some roof membranes.

View Live Data Here

MRCA PV Ad Hoc Committee

Action Plan

PV Articles

Roofing & Photovoltaics  by Kurt Baumgartner and Jay Crisp

Integrating Photovoltaics Onto Building Envelope Surfaces  by Michael Gumm

Standards/Documents

FM 1-35 Green Roof System   FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets - January 2007

"Green" photos

Chicago City Hall   Bennett and Brosseau Roofing Inc - Garden Roof - August 2008
Green Roof   Garden Roof on Dumpster Shelter - November 2008

Information Links

Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing
Photovoltaic Basics from the U.S. Department of Energy
Solar Energy Basics from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
DSIRE (comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.  
Cool Roof Rating Council (Independent, non-profit organization that maintains a third-party rating system for radiative properties of roof surfacing materials.