These Innovative Home Solar Panels Double as Skylights

Architect Gerald Choi had a problem.

The row of skylights in his home needed replacing, but at $50,000, costs were far too high.

So he sketched up  a few plans.

The result?

An idea so brilliant, so cutting-edge it’s sending shock waves through the building industry.

He created a combination bi-facial skylight PV system.

Amazingly, the panels allow in sunlight and moonlight while producing energy for the home and remaining hidden from the street.

The savings are incredible, too.

Choi’s panels retail at $26,000, but thanks to solar rebates and government tax credits he spent only $13,000.

What’s more, his utility bills have dropped to $18 a month.

To check pricing on solar installations in your area, click here.

The solar panels power his home, and when he has excess energy, he sells it back to his local electric grid in Hawaii.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen building-integrated photovoltaics, but it’s a sure sign of things to come.

Says Jerrod Schreck, president of Hoku Solar and the man that helped design Choi’s system, BIPV developments are on the horizon:

“I see the time coming when PV systems are architecturally integrated [into the structure]. We’re going to be developing PV systems working with architects. When they start drawing new buildings, they’ll already be talking about the energy load.”

Plus, this project comes just weeks after Dow launched a new factory for another type of building-integrated power: solar shingles.

With increasing demand for clean, renewable energy production at home, solar continues to grow smarter and smarter in design.

Someday you may not even notice it at all….

Would you install solar skylights in your home?

Let us know in the comments. And for assistance or help locating solar installers, click here.

Via Hawaii Business

Posted on July 5th in Solar News by Brittany.