b'Metal Roofs and Renewable Energy Systems: AFit Lasting Scott Kriner, LEED AP T need to reduce energy consumption, he waste and COemissions is clear. But the \'2 next stephowreasonably achieve that-to still needs to be addressed. Building owners and developers face particularly difficult challenges in this process, such as meeting more stringent codes for energy efficiency in new buildings and upfront costs to improve or change systems on existing ones. But aeasily accessible solution logical,warranty and thermal benefits and thus aregenerally average an 8%-10% internal rate to these dilemmas lies with renewable energystill dollars ahead," DeLoach says.of return,can be higher depending on but systems integrated with metal roofs.Metal roofing adds another value to solarapplicable incentive and cost structures. Valueenergy systems because it allows the roof to be" need to look at all of the cost paramYou Metal has several benefits for renewable energypitch installed to athat maximizes the angleeters, including installation and operating of the sun in alocation. This ability toexpenses, revenues, and borrowing costs to see systems. Durabilityisaone, accordinggiven majorcustomize the pitch maximizes the system\'show much you\'ll get back over atime to Tony DeLoach, owner ofIndustries,certain WESoutput on ahorizon.states where solar is viable there Sarasota, FL, athat engineers,direct mount.In companyThis is just one of the considerations inare government subsidies for system owners, designs, and installs renewable energy systems,designing roof-mounted renewable energywhich can behost or aparty. Those such as solar photovoltaic systems.thethird systems, according to DeLoach. "Right nowincentives,with the electricity savings, "Metal roofing makes complete sense foralong solar because of the life of the metal roof atthere\'s really not enough focus on understand will provide the rate of return on investment." 40, 60, or more years. The interesting thing,ing the role of the roof in renewable energyAnother significant factor in calculating however, is that most people don\'t recognizesystems. These are fully integrated systems sothe ROI is the electricity rate in the area of the the value of each component in them needs toinstallation. Conergyisbased in H , how valuable the warranty on metal roofing is.amburgbe calculated. In doing amount with Germany, and Cassarini is based in Denver. There\'s nothing Ithat offers the kindground know ofout ayou tendtolook at all the aspects.The company is also adistributor of ofaseam metal roof.roofwholesale warranty asstandingBut in amount the roof is frequentlysolar products. Plus, they\'re now all very attractive in aroof varietytaken for granted because it\'s already there.""One of the biggestfor national ofDeLoach says.challenges colors,"companies is the complexity and changing His company currently is building aCosts rooftopnature of the incentive structures. Ifves solar system in NewBP Solar thatincentiJersey forBuilding owners have several ways to fund a will be the world\'s largest roof and the biggestrenewable energy system. The four main wayscan become more consistent nationwide, it will to be constructed in the United States to date.are to pay cash, obtain aloan, tap aincrease visibility and transparency, and drive banklinetransaction costs down," Cassarini added. DeLoach has significant experience installingofor lease the system through vehicles credit,Many commercial building owners undersystems on metal roofs and noted thatif asuch as apurchase agreement (PPA). powerstand the value of aIn, solar system is not going to be installed on aDetermining the right one is based onPPA.this agreementmetal roof, the project will not be economicallythe needs of the building and the owner. Athe developer or other third party entity funds practicalifhas athe renewable system and sells the energy to the existing rooflimitedcomplete financial analysis on the project remaining life.begins with the motivation for installing thethe building owner at a reduced rate. DeLoach and his companyvery involved "We\'re aand installer, so weare developersystem and expectations for its performance. in thistypeof agreement. "Companies like would not put asystem onours renewable energyIfis to be more energy the primary motivationwill do awhere we\' re the developer and own a roof that\'s not going to last beyond the lifeefficient, cost may not be as important. On thePPA, the power system, so we guarantee acost of that system. As designers of these systems,other hand, looking strictly at upfrontcertain costsof power to theowner. Through this we we consider aroofof the fewtypesbuilding metalonemay not be good because overall costs and rate can also finance some or part ofroof. of roofing construction out there that offersof return are affected by several factors, suchthesystem If we can save aowner0%more abenefit because of both longevity andbuilding20%-3 or totalas system performance, rate structures, rebates,in energy costs that\'s ahelp to the owner ease of installation by using non-penetratingmodule selection, racking solutions and roof huge and itlps us pay for the system faster." clamps, for example. Ifcompany ownsheouring material. the renewable energy system, we also look atAccording to Gregg Cassarini, businessOther alternatives are available to trim the the efficiency we can gain by mounting it ondevelopment manager for Conergy, arupfront cost of the system, according to Tom sola Price, Executive Director, of San Francisco-aroof. We knowifcan incorporate metalweenergy company focused on large scale solar the cost of the metal roof in the project we gaindevelopment projects, commercial projectsrontinued on15 page 12Midwest Values BusinessResourcesNetworking'