As 2019 draws near, everyone’s looking forward to what a new year will bring. The team at J-Tech Solar is more excited than ever to bring residential solar solutions to Nebraskans hoping to reduce their carbon footprint as well as their energy bill. Although we may be Nebraska’s premier solar installation experts, we’re certainly not the only team making waves in the industry. This week, we’re looking at a few of the ways solar specialists are making renewable energy options more efficient, more beautiful and more accessible in 2019.
Solar Skins
While they’re not a new technology, solar skins will be much more accessible and popular in 2019 than in previous years. Individuals who have put off installing solar power because they are afraid of ruining the aesthetic beauty of their home can breathe a sigh of relief as this technology becomes more and more common in the industry.
Sistine Solar, a business started by two MIT graduates, created the technology after asking themselves the question, “what if solar power could be truly beautiful?” Essentially, Solar Skins are thin films coated with graphics which can be placed on existing solar panels to help disguise them. They don’t interfere with the efficiency of the panels themselves and allow homeowners to hide their panels in plain sight. Typically, they are printed with the same design, color and shade as the shingles on the roof so the solar panels can be camouflaged and not distract from the look of the home while still providing energy.
Residential Solar Tracking Mounts
If you’re one of the rare solar consumers whose system won’t fit well on your roof, you may be concerned about whether or not installing a system is worthwhile for you. Residential solar tracking mounts are proving solar can be a game-changer. The mounts allow the panels to track the sun’s movement across the sky. Much like a flower leans toward the window for better access to light, the mounts allow the panels to absorb as much energy as possible regardless of the sun’s position.
Floating Farms
Floating solar panels made big news when China created the largest floating solar farm in history in 2017. Ironically, it was built on a lake which was once the site of extensive coal mining. Japan also jumped on the trend and recently opened their newest plant which could produce more than 16,000 megawatt hours of energy per year. More solar farms are expected to pop up in cities across America and abroad in 2019. Californians are looking forward to adding more floating solar farms like the one in Dixon, CA, while Singapore has plans to open their new floating farm sometime next year.
Keep in the know about all things solar by reading the J-Tech Solar blog. We’re committed to providing quality service and installation on every job and helping Nebraskans stay up-to-date on all that’s happening in the renewable energy community. If you or someone you know is ready to make the switch to solar, call our offices today to talk about building a system that’s right for you, your budget and your energy needs.
