With the cost of solar panels dropping by about 7 percent annually and an increase in the number of photovoltaic installations up 20 percent in 2006, solar system sales are through the roof, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. A 2007 Roper study supported by Sharp Electronics shows that almost 90 percent of Americans feel home builders should offer solar power as an option for all new home construction, a notable increase from 79 percent in 2006.

“More and more, consumers are interested in solar energy, as the results of this survey clearly show. The message from consumers to home builders is clear — builders can differentiate themselves while satisfying customer needs by offering solar electricity on any home they build,” says Ron Kenedi, vice president, Solar Energy Solutions Group, Sharp Electronics.

While solar panels have been around for a long time — the first solar cell was built in 1883 by Charles Fritts, after which NASA began the modern technology wave in the ’50s — it is only in recent years the demand has caused an impact in the residential sector.

Now that the days of not-so-attractive solar frames perched upon rooftops are gone, homeowners have begun to appreciate today’s stylish modules that seamlessly integrate into their roofs. While the concept generally has remained the same — an array of cells that convert energy from the sun into electrical energy — new advances in the design, manufacture and marketing process have allowed for a broad range of residential applications.

Developments in the variety of materials used to build solar cells also have had an effect on the market. The most commonly used material is single-crystalline silicon, which fills about 90 percent of solar demand; however, certain solar cells incorporate polycrystalline technology and are cheaper to produce, although efficiency is lower than that of the single-crystalline silicon. Manufacturers are developing thin-film modules that reduce the amount of light-absorbing material needed to build a solar cell. While less expensive in regard to production cost, these panels have lower energy conversion efficiency.

Motivation for Builders

Largely responsible for the boom in solar system installations are the strategic relationships between builders and manufacturers. In early 2007, BP Solar and Old Country Roofing, a large Northern California roofing company, teamed up to present solar roofing solutions to more than 100 home building companies, which can be beneficial to builders looking to offer solar power solutions to potential home buyers.