Can Solar Panels Keep Your Home Cool?
Whether or not you have already invested in a solar panel system, you may be wondering if solar panels can keep your home cool. This is truly a very important factor to consider as it helps you to better understand the true benefits of this alternative energy source. In the following article, we will discuss more on the functionality of a solar panel system so you can know if it does indeed fulfill your main alternative energy objective.
Do Solar Panels Cool Your Home?
You may not already be aware, but a high level of heat energy gets trapped by a dark surface which is usually found on roofs. On a hot summer’s day, a temperature of up to 70 degrees Celsius can be recorded on a rooftop. Roofing materials are engineered to withstand significant heat, but high temperatures can still increase wear and tear on the surface. A heated roof will eventually transfer into your home or building which in turn raises the internal temperature. Even if your roof is designed with a full-functioning ventilation system, there will still be a substantial strain on your air conditioning system. Hence, you must know that solar panels do indeed help keep your home cool by bringing down the temperature of your roof surface.
How Solar Panels Keep Buildings Cool
Solar panels provide a physical cover that keeps your building cool. This layer of covering reduces the heat energy that is absorbed by your roof. People often have the perception that solar panels generate heat when they convert sunlight into electricity. However, this is not true. The solar panels instead trap heat so it will not be absorbed by your roof. This means that your home or building will be kept cool.
How Solar Panels Absorb Heat
Solar panels work in a similar way to shades. On a hot day, shades provide a cool spot which is similar to the way that solar panels function. Solar panels provide 24/7 covering, thus reducing the surface temperature of your roof. Most of the heat is absorbed by the solar panels through convection current which is the movement of air in the space that can be found in between the roof and the solar panels. This minimizes the heat in the solar panels and roof as air travels between these two surfaces to reduce the overall internal building temperature. You may also consider installing tilted solar panels depending on the architecture of your roof. Tilted panels offer a larger surface area than other types of solar energy systems. This will support a much more extensive channel that allows more air to travel in between the roof and panels to further increase the cooling of your home or building.
Other Solar Benefits on Roof
Through solar panels, your roof will be protected from external elements, thus reducing wear and tear that can help you save on maintenance costs. Exposure of the roof to UV radiation will also be reduced and the effects of thermal shock can be eliminated.