Today's era recognizes a burgeoning demand for renewable energy, with solar power leading the way. As a clean, reliable source of energy, solar panels can be integrated into structures in a multitude of ways—so many that a solar architect might be expected to know eight ways to say "personalized." The reason for this lies not in the panels themselves, which are fairly uniform; rather, it has to do with the structures that host the panels and how those structures can be inclined, oriented, and sited (and even how they can be constructed) to make efficient use of what amount to a set of different solar tools. For any installation, you want the panels to be at the correct angle and facing the right direction (to avoid the somewhat notorious pitfalls of "solar shingles" and "solar siding").
Every solar panel installation begins with a careful on-site assessment and a company understanding of the client's energy use profile. Walk-throughs and discussions led by the consultant give the installation company insight into the client's energy patterns and their budgeting and forecasting, which are as crucial to solar panel integration as the architectural plans for a house are to its construction. With this intel, the integration company uses advanced software to simulate the energy output of potential solar configurations. These simulations not only predict energy production but also inform the company's decisions on the optimal placement and orientation of the panels. To these custom designs, the company likewise sounds out the client to ensure that the intended return on investment is clear and convincing.
In addition to providing technical advantages, integrated solar is aesthetically harmonious. When it comes to the unique design elements of a property, each solar array is considered to be an integral part of the build. Consequently, the solar panels are not only tailored to find a place that makes sense on the building's exterior, but they are also tailored to elevate the image of the property. This customization can involve selecting solar panel styles, colors, and configurations that would make even Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect who famously said, "A house should not be a machine to live in," proud. Whether one is in the particular positioning of a commercial entity (where the image is especially important) or a residential client (whose home is his or her castle), the idea part and parcel of integrated solar is that its presence in a building is a positive image.
