Category: Solar Energy

Solar is Hot: The Rise of Residential Solar Systems and Roofs

The Rise of Residential Solar Systems and Roofs in Rhode Island

From marginal to mainstream, the interest in residential solar systems is booming. That’s due in part to a recent decision in California, which requires all new homes in the state to include residential solar systems beginning in 2020. That landmark decision is helping drive solar adoption not only in California, but throughout the country.  In… ( read more )

Skylights and Metal Roofing

Let’s focus in on skylights and their relationship to lifetime residential metal roofing. The longevity and life of skylights have improved over the years. However, the number of domestic manufacturers of off-the-shelf skylights has dwindled to basically one. That company is Velux. We do on occasion have the need to order custom skylight replacements due… ( read more )

How Solar Panels are Attached to Metal Roofs

In most cases, installing a solar energy system requires screws in the roof to attach the rail upon which the solar panels sit. Homeowners worry a lot about poking screw holes in their roofs. I get it. I’m a homeowner too.  I’m here to tell you, don’t worry. New England Clean Energy has been installing… ( read more )

Installing Solar on a Metal Roof

New England Clean Energy has installed 1,000 solar electric systems on homes and businesses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and dozens of those were on metal roofs. That includes standing-seam, corrugated metal, and metal shingles. The process of installing solar on a metal roof is a little different versus the traditional asphalt shingles…. ( read more )

Residential Solar Power Economics Are Compelling – With or Without Subsidies

Almost as inexorable as death and taxes has been a rising secular trend in the demand for electricity in the United States – at the utility companies/wholesale level, that is. Or so we have always thought. Yet, since the summer of 2008 electricity demand as seen by the utilities has marginally declined. That has not… ( read more )