Location: Tullinge, Sweden
Homeowners striving to decrease their energy bills and help the environment are often faced with an aesthetic dilemma. Solar panels, while effective, are hardly a subtle roof-top fixture. With the average American household generating 7.4 tons of carbon dioxide per year, the benefits of solar power for homeowners and the environment alike are undeniable. Yet the expense, professional installation, and glaring appearance make many reluctant. SolTech Energy System, a Swedish solar energy company, has created a glass roof system that offers clean and sustainable energy without sacrificing design.
SolTech’s tiles, made of ordinary glass instead of concrete or clay, create a captivating, icy illusion. The system was invented by Peter Kjaerboe from the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology and biologist Arne Moberg. This partnership led to an integration of technical data and biological inspiration, making SolTech a prime example of biophilia. Biophilic design is the increasingly popular concept of integrating natural features into design to not only reduce the environmental impact, but also reconnect us with nature. This beautiful new roof material has won much praise and numerous awards including the gold medal at the Nordbygg North Building Awards.
While much of SolTech’s praise is focused on its aesthetic appeal, the solar system has many tangible, environmental benefits. The transparent glass allows the sun to shine through to the absorbing fabric underneath. This underlying black canvas absorbs heat from the sun, which circulates into the airflow underneath. The SolTech system is designed to work with a structure’s existing heating system or electrical grid. The result is a heating or electrical system that generates about 350 kWh per square meter and, on the average home, pays for itself in 6 months. With this system, homeowners will be unaffected by rising energy prices and carbon footprints for the next 40 years. Now that there is an attractive eco-alternative on the market, what’s keeping you from making your home solar?
Environmental Impact: Efficient energy use, Avoided use of fossil fuels, Avoided carbon emissions
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