Experts Available to Discuss Solar Power, Without All Those Panels

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The New York Times has reported that a new generation of building materials with photovoltaic cells sealed within them has made it possible for homeowners to harness solar power without having to install bulky panels. Companies are creating such materials as solar tiles and shingles that fit in with various styles of roofing, and these have already been installed in several demonstration sites around the United States.

“The new materials are part of the building itself, not an addition, and they are taking photovoltaics to the next level — an aesthetic one,” said Alfonso Velosa III, a research director at Gartner and co-author of a coming report on the market for the new field, called building-integrated photovoltaics.

Because the best time to install the photovoltaics is during building construction, recovery of the real estate and construction markets will influence the rate of adoption. But, said Mr. Velosa, “we are seeing that the construction industry has realized that energy-efficient buildings are an opportunity for growth.” Frost & Sullivan's Akhil Sivanandan also noted that government subsidies, such as those already provided in Europe, could help the market grow more quickly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/27novel.html?_r=1

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Randy Luecke is President of CSA International (CSA I), a global leading provider of product testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas products. CSA International certification marks appear on billions of products worldwide.

Specific topics Randy can discuss include: (1) environmental/sustainability trends and the importance of testing and certification of new energy efficient products such as solar panels; (2) consumer safety tips – what retailers and consumers should look for before purchasing a product to ensure it meets safety standards; (3) Growth in global sourcing and international trade and how certification and testing organizations are adapting to this trend; (4) Counterfeit products and how organizations like CSA are working to reduce the number of counterfeit products entering the North American market; (5) Multifunctional products — a big production trend is that many of today's at-home products are designed to serve more than one purpose. For example, a gas grill may also come with accessories including sinks, refrigerators and even lights. This requires testing of pipes, electrical, and gas lines and how they interact with each other, and the impact from exposure to weather elements.

Justin Krum, 1st Light Energy

Justin Krum is the founder and president of 1st Light Energy, a solar energy company that has been in operation for over a decade--making them one of the oldest, most experienced and knowledgeable solar companies. At only 28 years of age, Krum has built one of the nation's most successful solar companies and has brokered partnerships with notable corporations like The Home Deport and BP Solar.

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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