Roofs are about to step into the high-tech era, and the step could create new challenges for facility design and construction.
My most recent Technology blog discussed possible practicality challenges posed by installing solar technology on existing facilities. The technology has advanced to the point where manufacturers are ramping up production, and more organizations are scrutinizing it closely as a way to address rising energy costs.
Solar technology is promising, but one important question is whether the relatively new systems will create practical problems for managers related to wear and tear on existing roofs and post-installation system maintenance issues.
Now, an article in The New York Times points out another question facility managers might consider in researching rooftop solar technology: What effect does Moore’s Law have on the decision to install the technology on new or existing facilities?
According to Moore’s Law, the number of transistors manufacturers can inexpensively place on an integrated circuit increases exponentially and doubles every two years or so. Since solar cells have a lot in common with integrated circuits, it seems safe to assume the technology will advance more rapidly than that of, say, boilers.
So let’s assume organizations will want to upgrade their rooftop solar technology every so often to maximize system performance and energy savings. How often will a new rooftop need to withstand wear and tear associated with upgrading rooftop equipment to achieve these goals?