September 27, 2006—Designed by Integrated Power Corporation (iPower) of Novato , California, construction has begun on the first large-scale commercial installation of single-ply membrane solar roof on The Savoy Building at Fisherman’s Wharf.
The 40kW system will cover 3,000 sq. ft. and generate 50,000 kilowatt hours(1) of pure energy annually. This solar power system will save the company as much as $20,000 in annual electrical costs in the first year, and eliminate 1000 tons of CO2 over the next twenty years, says iPower.
Savoy’s installation, utilizing the SolarSave roofing membrane from Open Energy Corp., consists of silicon solar cells built into a single-ply membrane roofing “sheet.” In the first step of a two-step process, sheets of 60 mil PVC roofing membrane are rolled onto the roofing surface. The seams are sealed with hot air welding to create a waterproof membrane. Next, solar cell modules measuring 4’x8′ are heat-welded to this layer to create a unified roofing system with built-in solar cells (each 4’x8′ sheet containing l60 solar cells).
Partnering with Integrated Power Corporation on the Savoy project are Atlas-Pellizzari Electrical Corporation and DRI Commercial.
For more information, visit the i Power Web site.
