Solar Panels Keep Buildings Cool

SAN DIEGO—Solar photovoltaic panels installed on rooftops act as "roof shades" to keep buildings cool, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego engineering school. The researchers used data gathered from thermal imaging of a campus laboratory to determine that during the day, the building's ceiling was 5°F (2.8°C) cooler under solar panels than under an exposed roof. Also, at night, the panels provide thermal insulation to hold heat in. The research team calculated that the amount saved on cooling the building was equal to getting a 5% discount on the solar panels' price, over the panels' lifetime.

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Source: UCSD School of Engineering, ASHRAE
Photo source: UCSD School of Engineering