Pahrump Valley Times 7-9-10

Home gains solar panels for roofing tiles

Most homeowners put in brackets of photo-voltaic solar panels mounted on their roofs after they're constructed, in an attempt to go green.

At Leslie Boullianne's new home under construction on 2261 Zuni Ave., in the Winery neighborhood, roofing crews are forgoing roofing tiles entirely for part of the roof, where they're connecting integrated, solar panels instead.

"This is what you call BIPV: building integrated photo-voltaic," said Jamie Guajardo, the technician for Eagle Roofing Products. "The biggest difference between these modules and other modules is you're integrated into the roofing system."

The Eagle Roofing system links up the solar panels with each other and with the concrete titles. About 10 percent of the roof will be covered with the solar panels instead of roofing tiles on the slopes facing west and south.

Guajardo was standing on the roof supervising crews installing the first such project in Pahrump. In fact, Mario Villaneda, Eagle Roofing senior sales representative, said there isn't one in Las Vegas either. The nearest home constructed with such a roof is in Mesquite.

Inside Sales Manager Gina Waters said the company has been installing an average of 15 to 20 of the roofs each month in California, where there are more attractive state tax credits in addition to the 30 percent federal tax rebate.

The price of the Eagle Roofing system has come down and the efficiency has gone up enough to make it comparable with the traditional solar panels installed on roofs, Guajardo said.

Anthony Roofing Co., from Pahrump, installed 120 of the panels on Boullianne's home. Each is capable of generating 50 watts for a system that will generate a total of six kilowatts.

Each of the solar panels weighs 14-1/2 pounds, measures 17-by-47 inches and is linked with the others. Wiring for each panel is hooked up to the next panel like Christmas lights. Electricians with D and J Electrical Services Inc., also from Pahrump, will then hook those up to an inverter.

"Typically, the solar has to be adapted to the roof. This is the roof," Rick Osborn, Eagle Roofing regional manager, said. "It's just like putting up a roof."

Weight is a consideration when roofing a house. Guajardo said the solar panels weigh 325 pounds per 100 square feet. That's well under the weight limit for a roof, he said.

Ironically, the hotter it gets, the less efficient the solar panels are, Osborn said. For that reason, crews leave a space between the panels and the roof for ventilation, he said.

"It's a complete, turn-key package," Osborn said.

Boullianne said it will be her third house in Pahrump. In addition to the solar roof, she was proud of building what she called "an all people's home" with extra wide doors for people with mobility problems. She is also installing low-density foam insulation, energy efficient windows and a SEER heating and air-conditioning system. AVCO Construction of Pahrump is the home builder.

"They're integrated solar panels. That's the new and latest thing. I like Zuni Street, I like the winery and I'm 75. I always wanted to build a house," Boullianne said.

Boullianne's solar panels, inverter and other solar equipment will run $36,000, he said. After the 30 percent federal rebate, that figure drops to less than $26,000. Boullianne said the state will also reduce the assessed value of the home due to the solar improvements.

Eagle Roofing calculates the system will pay for itself in 18 years, based on annual utility savings of $1,060 to $2,220 over that time.