The power of PV | FocusAmbika Puniani Bailey
Next month, Solar Power International 2011 will take place in
Dallas. Now in its sixth year, the show is expected to draw 24,000
attendees, a testament to the fact that the photovoltaic (PV)
market continues to grow.
For the roofing industry, the growth in these segments offers
unprecedented opportunity. But that opportunity is saddled with
challenges. Roofing contractors entering the PV market will face
competition from electricians and solar and PV providers claiming
they should be the ones installing solar and PV systems on
rooftops.
NRCA's position is that
rooftop PV system installations only can be undertaken with the
involvement of professional roofing contractors employing skilled
roofing workers and involving licensed electricians when necessary.
Only a roofing contractor can properly assess a roof system's
condition, and installing an expensive PV system over an aged or
faulty roof system will lead to unintended results. A new, unified
position paper endorsed by NRCA;
the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers;
Roof Integrated Solar
Energy™ (RISE™) Inc. and the Center for Environmental Innovation
in Roofing addresses rooftop PV installations and is expected
to be released soon.
This month's issue is dedicated to PV-related topics. "New
technology, new safety issues," on page 30 discusses safety
issues unique to PV roof systems, and "A better
choice," page 40, stresses the importance of installing PV
systems over new roof systems. In addition, information is provided
about the Certified
Solar Roofing Professional™ (CSRP™) certification
offered by RISE. The
designation will prove to consumers that a roofing contractor with
a CSRP
certification possesses the necessary knowledge to
install...
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