{"id":432,"date":"2014-01-08T18:41:13","date_gmt":"2014-01-08T23:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roofingmagazine.com\/?p=432"},"modified":"2014-01-26T13:35:17","modified_gmt":"2014-01-26T18:35:17","slug":"pv-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roofingmagazine.com\/pv-ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You \u2018PV Ready\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Commercial rooftops are an attractive platform for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity-producing systems. These low-slope roofs offer an economical and sustainable structural foundation for renewable solar energy. As an example, one of the largest roof-mounted PV systems in North Carolina has been online for several months at the Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. vault logistics facility in Thomasville. Almost 7,700 solar panels completely cover the warehouse\u2019s 160,000-square-foot roof and produce enough power (1.8 megawatts) to offset more than 90 percent of the building\u2019s annual energy costs.<\/p>\n
Success stories like Old Dominion\u2019s are becoming increasingly common in the sunny Carolinas. However, it is important to remember a roof\u2019s function is, first and foremost, to protect the building\u2019s contents and people from the elements. In this regard, roofing professionals need to anticipate the potential risks associated with the installation of a roof-mounted PV system (array). This sort of due diligence is particularly important when installing PV systems on existing warranted roofs.<\/p>\n