Roof real estate is getting more and more expensive
How can you make the most of your available roofspace
Everybody deserves a spot under the sun
Harnessing Sun power is a wonderful, sustainable and cheap way to run your home. Solar pool heating systems, Solar geysers and then of course, photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity. These are all wonderful systems which can add energy-independence and create a delightful living environment. (Whats better than hopping from a warm pool to a hot shower, al while the lights and Wi-Fi stay on?)
BUT – These solar systems all need the same thing: Uncovered, unshaded, flat, and open SPACE.
This usually means putting up panels and geysers on your roof.
The minimum heating requirement for a normal sized residential pool is 6 to 8 large solar “heating panels” (these are black plastic and metal thermal water heating panels, not photovoltaic cells that generate electricity). As a ballpark estimate of size this can cover anything from 3m x 6m to 4m x 12m depending on the size of your system. The panels need to lie flat on your roof surface, and there should be no shade or other interference. The whole point is to allow the sun to heat the panels as the pool water is circulated through.
The same goes for solar energy generation.
To supply an average South African household, living in a stand-alone residential home, you will need about 14 to 25 solar panels. Panels are usually about 1.2m x 1.8m in size. (Once again, this is just a rough estimate for purposes of today’s discussion.) If you are looking for more info on a solar electricity system for your home, you can check out our discussions on solar, or do the math yourself with the help of these websites:
For a solar geyser, you will probably need a space of about 3m x 3m…But don’t worry, a gas geyser can be wall mounted and takes up much less space! Read this Homemakers debate for the pro’s and con’s of both these systems,
This all adds up and pretty soon roof-space is becoming an issue.
While there is very little we can do about the size and space requirements of your solar array, we do have one or two options for optimizing your roof real estate.
Make your photovoltaic solar do double duty.
If the whole point of these solar panels is to absorb sunlight, why not use them to create shade as well? There is no rule that says your panels have to be on your roof. You can make the solar panel the roof! Carports, patio-roofs or even garden shade spots are often overlooked spaces that still have amazing sun access, without having to take up roof space.
A Solar carport is one of our favourite ways to do this. You can either convert your existing shade net carport into a steel structure, and the place your panels on top, or you can invest in a purpose-built solar carport that uses the panels themselves as the roof.
For more information on building a solar carport in South Africa, read on:
What you need to know about solar carports.
Sinetech how to build a solar carport
Double duty patio shade
A carport might not be a great option for heating your pool (Pools are usually in the backyard and carports in the front of the house so the distance of pipes and pumping of water across your whole yard will probably be inefficient.). This is where your patio or outside entertainment area comes into play. Place your pool heating panels on the patio roof or use them to create shade where you need it in the back yard. Just remember that these panels get heavy when they have water rushing through them, so be sure to get a professional opinion about what type of structure will be able to support the weight.
Stronger than you think.
If the idea of using your expensive solar panels as “roofing” freaks you out, you can relax – High quality solar panels have excellent hail resistance and were in fact designed and manufactured to withstand even the most severe weather conditions!
Still not convinced? Get grounded!
Another option, which might be more suited to commercial properties or agricultural holdings, is installing ground mounted solar panels. This type of mounting comes with many benefits. You are no longer limited to residential sized panels and can invest in larger panels. You can tilt and angle the panels to ensure maximum sun exposure and efficiency. Many of these ground mountings can be moved/pivoted to ensure year-round sun exposure.
For ground mounted solar panels, you will need space, and while most of the heat sensitive components can be kept some distance from the installation, certain safety features will have to be installed onto the panel mountings.
Just because the roof is crowded, it doesn’t mean you cant still harness the power of the sun to run your home!
