The future of commercial roofing is solar

By Dani Sheehan. 

With rising energy prices and a shift toward renewable energy, contractors who embrace solar installations will find themselves at the forefront of a growing market that values sustainability. 

In a recent episode of Coffee Conversations®, Heidi J. Ellsworth joined industry experts from Georgia-Pacific Building Products to discuss the role of contractors in solar panel installations on low-slope commercial roofing. Featuring Greg Hudson, Ieuan Compton and John Mulcahy from Georgia-Pacific, they highlighted how contractors are not just supporting solar installations but are driving sustainability goals forward.  

“Contractors are the subject matter experts when it comes to the installation and repair of low-slope roof systems,” Greg began. “They collaborate with building owners, designers and manufacturers. It’s built into their DNA.” Even if contractors don’t perform the initial installation, they are integral to the long-term maintenance of solar panel systems. 

John agreed and added that contractors are key to helping building owners meet their sustainability goals because solar installations can not only reduce energy costs, but they can also enhance the marketability of buildings. He explained, “Solar can make a building more attractive to tenants, positively impacting occupancy and lease rates, particularly if it helps achieve certain certifications that tenants value.” Contractors play an important role in selling solar systems, helping make them profitable for the building owner while also mitigating risks associated with solar. Specializing in solar panel installations makes them uniquely equipped to ensure solar installations don’t compromise roof performance by addressing fire risks and assessing the wear on the system from the additional weight.  

While the U.S. solar industry is growing rapidly, there are lessons to be learned from Europe’s more aggressive approach. Ieuan offered his own insights from across the Atlantic, where solar panel adoption is booming. He noted, “In Europe, every man and his dog are fitting solar panels... We have a European green deal, which is linked to the COP 21 outputs that says that Europe needs to be net-zero carbon by 2050. And that sounds like it's a long way away, but it's not. It's 26 years away, which is the lifetime of a roof that hasn't performed properly. So, we're one rooftop away from being net-zero carbon.” 

Contractors will be essential in scaling solar projects. As urban areas face limited ground space for solar farms, rooftops are the natural solution for the solar energy generation. We can propel this movement by offering expertise in both roof and solar system performance to ensure buildings can safely meet sustainability targets.  

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn how to optimize your solar roofing projects and lead the way in solar sustainability.